The Hialeah City Council approved an ordinance to offer a one-time $200 rebate to property owners with a homestead exemption, scheduling second reading and a public hearing for Oct. 28, 2025.
Administration staff presented the mayor’s proposal and a fiscal briefing showing the rebate would cover roughly 32,100 homesteaded properties at an estimated $6.4 million cost. Finance staff said the proposal combines deferred capital projects, reduced contingency, and a partial draw from general fund reserves to fund the payment. City staff warned that larger rebates (for example $250 or $300) would require substantially more funds and would further reduce reserves.
Council discussion focused on the trade-offs required to finance the rebate. Several council members argued for a larger rebate and asked staff to identify additional cuts; others warned that diverting funds would lower the city’s reserves to levels that could complicate looming liabilities, including approximately $70 million in pending litigation and upcoming collective bargaining negotiations. Council members also reviewed a vacancy list presented by administration staff and discussed whether unfilled budgeted positions could be used to finance a larger rebate.
A motion to raise the rebate to $250 failed in the roll call vote; the council then approved the $200 rebate. The roll call on the final motion was recorded as Perez (yes), Rodriguez (yes), Tunidor (yes), La Vega (yes), Zogby (no), Junco (no). The item passed and will return for second reading on Oct. 28, 2025.
Ending: The council approved a first-reading ordinance and directed staff to finalize the distribution mechanism and coordinate with the county property appraiser for required exempt-data access; a related resolution to allow the city to receive exempt property-appraiser information also was approved.