OUTSOURCING OR SELLING COUNTY DEBT

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

This legislative matter, File Number 261102, concerns a report on the feasibility of outsourcing or selling County debt. The report, introduced on 6/15/2026 and scheduled for an agenda on 7/21/2026, analyzes the potential sale of approximately $41 million (8%) of Miami-Dade County's outstanding debt, which totaled about $525 million as of July 29, 2025. The debt includes non-citation items like Fire Rescue emergency medical services and Water and Sewer utility billing, as well as citation-related debt from departments such as Regulatory and Economic Resources and Animal Services. The recommendation is to consider selling a portion of the debt portfolio to generate cash flow, with specific criteria to minimize risk. The report notes that selling citation-related debt is not recommended due to practical considerations for constituents and the County. Concerns raised include potential legal risks under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA) if debt is sold to third parties, loss of direct constituent assistance, and potential impact on funding streams for departments. The County has prior experience with outside collection agencies, with a list of potential providers provided. The report is a response to Resolution R-785-25.