Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach and Golden Beach residents could see their water bills rise next fiscal year under a proposal from Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to increase county water rates by 6%.
Levine Cava's administration has also been urging large Water and Sewer Department contractors and consultants to lobby county commissioners in favor of the hike, Miami Herald reporter Doug Hanks reported on X on July 21. The pressure campaign signals the proposal may face resistance on the Board of County Commissioners.
The mayor is warning that holding rates flat would force the county to suspend major water and sewer capital projects, according to Hanks' reporting. The department operates under a federal consent decree governing its capital improvement programs, meaning project delays could carry legal consequences beyond just deferred maintenance.
What it means for bills
The county's current residential water consumption charge, set in October 2025, is $5.06 per hundred cubic feet (HCF). A 6% increase would push that to roughly $5.36 per HCF. The current monthly sewer charge is $8.61 per unit.
The full per-household impact depends on total usage, meter size, and whether sewer rates also rise. The formal fiscal year 2026-27 budget document, which would detail the complete rate schedule, has not been publicly released.
Scale of capital work at stake
Which specific projects face suspension has not been disclosed. But the department's capital pipeline is substantial: the county's Infrastructure, Innovation and Technology Committee, chaired by District 4 Commissioner Micky Steinberg, approved a $12.5 million contract in June for wastewater and water service in the Green Tech Corridor. That project drew funding partly from the Building Better Communities bond program for countywide water and sewer enhancements.
Steinberg's committee held a discussion on the proposed Water and Sewer Department budget on July 15. Steinberg represents Aventura and surrounding communities.
Timeline for implementation
Miami-Dade's fiscal year begins Oct. 1, so the rate ordinance would need commission approval before then. A formal vote date has not been scheduled. Residents can monitor the commission calendar and submit public comment through the county's webcasting portal at miamidade.gov.
@doug_hanks: "Miami-Dade @MayorDaniella wants a 6% increase in water rates next year and is warning a flat rate will mean suspension of big capital projects. Hearing the admin has been urging big W&S contractors and consultants to urge commissioners to back the higher rate."
