OUTSOURCING OR SELLING COUNTY DEBT

Board of County Commissioners · 2026-07-21 · report

This legislative item, File Number 261102, is a report on the feasibility of outsourcing or selling Miami-Dade County debt. The report, introduced on 6/15/2026 and scheduled for the Board of County Commissioners agenda on 7/21/2026, analyzes the potential sale of approximately $41 million (8%) of the County's $525 million outstanding debt as of July 29, 2025. The debt includes non-citation items like emergency medical services and utility billing, as well as citation-related debt. The report recommends considering the sale of a portion of the debt to generate cash flow, but advises against selling citation-related debt due to compliance requirements and potential negative impacts on constituents. The County has prior experience with outside collection agencies, with a list of potential providers identified. Legal implications, including potential applicability of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to third-party collectors, are discussed. The sale could impact departmental budgets and funding streams, and may result in a loss of direct constituent support and internal flexibility. The report was initiated by a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins and adopted on July 16, 2025.