OUTSOURCING OR SELLING COUNTY DEBT

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

Miami-Dade County is considering the feasibility of outsourcing or selling a portion of its outstanding debt, specifically recommending the sale of approximately $41 million (8%) of the total $525 million outstanding debt as of July 29, 2025. This debt includes non-citation items like emergency medical services and utility billing, as well as some citation-related debt. The County Mayor's office, through the Internal Compliance Department's Credit and Collection Section (CCS), conducted an internal analysis. The recommendation is to sell only a portion of the debt to generate cash flow, with specific criteria to minimize risk. The report highlights that selling citation-related debt is not considered in the best interest of constituents or the County due to compliance requirements and the need for personal assistance. Potential risks include legal exposure under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) if the County uses third-party collectors, and loss of direct constituent support. The County has prior experience with outside collection agencies, with a list of potential providers identified. The report is a response to Resolution R-785-25, sponsored by Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins.