Government ANALYSIS Members Only

Budget Season Opens: A Flat Tax Rate, a Structural Gap, and a Capital Wishlist the City Can Only Half-Fund

Miami Beach's first detailed FY2027 numbers landed at Wednesday's Finance committee. The administration proposes holding the tax rate flat, but a structural shortfall of $7.9M to $17.7M remains, the five-year capital plan tops $1.3 billion, and only about half of next year's $256M in capital requests can be funded — all before a November ballot measure that threatens future revenue.

Journal Staff Jun 17, 2026

Budget

Government NEWS

Miami Beach City Meetings Scheduled for Week of June 22–26

A reference of the week's public city meetings

Journal Staff Jun 17, 2026

Government NEWS

The Week Ahead: Budget Season Opens, a Live Local Off-Ramp, and a Transparency Push

Three Miami Beach committees meet this week. The first detailed FY2027 budget-and-millage numbers land Wednesday, the city floats a homegrown alternative to the state's Live Local Act on Monday, and a cluster of ethics and transparency measures advances — all at the committee stage, none a final vote.

Journal Staff Jun 15, 2026

Planning Budget Housing

Public Safety NEWS

Miami-Dade Condo Repair Loan Program Returns with $15M — But the Clock Is Ticking

Miami-Dade's Condominium Special Assessment Loan Program has reopened after a months-long pause, offering up to $50,000 in zero-interest loans for building repairs. The June 30 application deadline is fast approaching.

Journal Staff Jun 12, 2026

Housing

Government ANALYSIS Members Only

Miami Beach Finance Committee Splits on How to Pay for $783 Million Infrastructure Backlog

Miami Beach commissioners split Friday over whether to fund nearly $1 billion in water, sewer, and stormwater work through utility rate increases or a voter-approved General Obligation bond — then voted 3-0 to send the full Commission a menu of options rather than pick one.

Journal Staff Jun 12, 2026

Litigation NEWS Members Only

Miami Beach Property Owner Sues Contractors After Pool Installation Causes Sewage Contamination

A Miami Beach LLC is suing its general contractor and a pool company, alleging that botched pool installation severed the property's main drainage line and triggered raw sewage discharge, city violations, and a forced lease termination.

Journal Staff Jun 12, 2026

Litigation ANALYSIS Members Only

Lancel Handbag Heir's Estranged Husband Sues Over $7.4M Di Lido Island Mansion

The estranged husband of an heir to the family that built French handbag house Lancel is suing for equitable ownership of a $7.4M waterfront Di Lido Island estate, claiming he co-financed the purchase but has been locked out since their 2023 separation.

Journal Staff Jun 12, 2026

Litigation NEWS Members Only

Cuban-American Restaurant Chain Sues Ghost Kitchen Company Over Unpaid Revenue

CAO Bakery & Café is suing virtual restaurant brand Hatch House, seeking more than $80,000 over allegedly unpaid revenue from ghost kitchen operations at three South Florida locations, including one on Miami Beach's Alton Road.

Journal Staff Jun 12, 2026

Litigation NEWS Members Only

Star Urologist Fires Back at Mount Sinai: Says Hospital Broke the Deal First, Demands Jury Trial

In his answer to Mount Sinai's non-compete suit, Dr. Ricardo Palmerola denies wrongdoing, argues the hospital breached the employment agreement first by withholding his bonus and disaffiliating from Columbia, attacks the 15-mile restriction as unenforceable, and demands a jury trial.

Journal Staff Jun 12, 2026

Public Safety ANALYSIS Members Only

Families Sue Star Island Construction Barge Over Children's Deaths in Sailboat Collision

Families of five children have sued Southeast Marine Construction over a July 2025 collision in Biscayne Bay that killed three young campers and seriously injured two others, according to a complaint filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court.

Journal Staff Jun 12, 2026

Litigation NEWS Members Only

Engineer Denies Liability in Sunset Harbour Design-Defect Suit, Faults Contractor

Bliss & Nyitray is the first of four firms sued over the Eighteen Sunset project to formally answer — denying the developers' claims, arguing the building was not constructed to its design, and contending the developers sued without the pre-suit notice Florida law requires. The architect has not yet responded.

Journal Staff Jun 12, 2026

Litigation NEWS Members Only

Janitorial Company Sues Barton G. Miami Beach Owner for $41K After Restaurant Closure

A Miami janitorial firm has sued the owner of the now-closed Barton G. restaurant at 1427 West Ave., seeking $41,305 in unpaid bills and alleging shell companies were used to dodge the debt.

Journal Staff Jun 12, 2026