OUTSOURCING OR SELLING COUNTY DEBT

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

Miami-Dade County is evaluating the feasibility of outsourcing or selling a portion of its outstanding debt, estimated at $525 million as of July 29, 2025. The report identifies approximately $41 million (8%) of this debt as potentially suitable for sale to third-party collection agencies or receivables buyers. The County Mayor's office recommends considering the sale of a portion, not the entirety, of the debt portfolio to generate cash flow, with specific criteria to minimize risk. The report details the types of debt, potential buyers, market conditions, and financial implications, noting that citation-related debt and debt requiring compliance components or personal assistance for constituents are not recommended for sale. The County has prior experience with outside collection agencies, listing examples from 2003 and current market providers. Legal considerations include Florida statutes and potential applicability of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA) if debt is assigned to private collectors. The report is a response to Resolution R-785-25, sponsored by Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, and was introduced on June 15, 2026, with an agenda date of July 21, 2026.