Miami-Dade County – On July 27, 2020, County Commissioners unanimously adopted legislation sponsored by Vice Chairwoman Sosa, urging the State of Florida to provide relief to residents struggling to pay their property taxes in the wake of COVID-19 and the resulting economic impacts.
“COVID-19 has not only affected the health of our residents, but it has also caused profound economic distress for many throughout our community. Though we are hoping for a speedy recovery, we do not yet know how long our economy will continue to suffer from the effects of thedisease,” said Vice Chairwoman Sosa. “I commend my colleagues for supporting this measure, which aims to provide our residents with much-needed relief during these trying times. Now, more than ever, we must come together to help those harmed by the global pandemic.”
As of July 24, 2020, there have been over 15 million COVID-19 cases worldwide, with more than 3.9 million in the United States. Efforts to contain the spread of the disease have resulted in limitations on residents’ activities and severe restrictions on business activity, including mandatory closures. As a result, thousands of residents in Miami-Dade County and throughout the state have lost their jobs or have had their incomes severely reduced. Recent data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that several cities in Florida, including the Cities of Hialeah, Miami, Orlando, and Port St. Lucie, are among those in the United States that have seen the most significant spikes in unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The extreme financial hardship facing Floridians is made more tragic when considering that many are struggling to pay their bills, including property taxes, which puts them at risk of losing their homes. In light of this issue, Vice Chairwoman Sosa’s legislation urges Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to issue an executive order providing relief to residents struggling to pay their property taxes in the wake of COVID-19 and the resulting economic crisis. The legislation suggests such measures as delaying the payment of property taxes, allowing residents to pay their property taxes in up to three installments, or waiving the payment of penalties. The resolution also urges the Florida Legislature to adopt similar legislation to help the residents of the state.
