Miami Dade Sheriff Gets Record Budget

Miami-Dade County commissioners approved the largest budget in the history of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

The final appropriation for fiscal year 2026-27 totals $1.234 billion. This figure exceeds the Sheriff’s certified request of $1.048 billion by $186.3 million. County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Commission Chair Anthony Rodriguez transmitted the formal written notice for the budget on Oct. 8.

The spending plan funds 200 additional positions requested by the Sheriff. The new roles consist of 80 sworn officers and 120 civilian staff. The agency also receives approximately $95 million for overtime and associated benefits. This is the highest overtime appropriation in the department’s history. The budget also covers the cost of living adjustment for all MDSO employees and a 3.5 percent pay supplement for personnel certified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Mayor Levine Cava stated that public safety was a priority throughout the process. “We made public safety a priority throughout the budget process, and the final budget reflects that,” she said. “We approved the largest Sheriff’s Office budget in Miami-Dade history, with the funding to fill existing vacancies and all additional positions requested by the Sheriff.” She added that the county continued to fund other essential services, including Fire Rescue, Corrections, and the judicial system.

The Sheriff’s Office reported approximately 300 vacant positions as of June 2026. The approved funding is designed to fill those existing gaps while also recruiting for the 200 new positions. The county is also allocating $21.3 million in General Fund debt service for the agency. These funds support vehicles, helicopters, radio systems, and facility improvements.

The increase in Sheriff’s funding occurred alongside a decline in county revenue growth. To balance the books, the county eliminated more than 400 General Fund positions in other departments. The adopted budget did not include a cost-of-living adjustment for employees under the Mayor’s direct purview. General Fund support for the Sheriff’s Office has grown 37 percent since fiscal year 2022-23, rising from approximately $720 million to $990 million.