MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The countywide issue of curbing homelessness has fallen on the doorstep of Miami Beach.
It’s an area rocked recently by a surprise drop-off of dozens of the unsheltered amid concerns over how to fund mandatory homeless initiatives.
A special commission meeting was held Thursday aimed solely at tackling the problem.
6 p.m. report:
Miami-Dade County is requesting at least $5 million dollars a year from Miami Beach as a cost share approach.
Initially, a ballot referendum could have implemented a 1% food and beverage tax in Miami Beach to pay for homeless services, but city leaders rescinded the measure at the last minute.
Commissioner Joe Magazine proposed an idea to instead use money from the city’s redevelopment agency to fulfill the funding gap, an idea that ensures tourist tax dollars from a yet to be built hotel pays for the problem.
The measure passed unanimously by the commission.
And commissioners also decided that some of that designated cash will now help fund a mental health clinic.