FYI Miami: March 6, 2025

Below are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here.

JACKSON BONDS GET BOOST: As Miami-Dade County this month prepared to negotiate the sale of $239 million in bonds to add capital facilities for Jackson Health System and to pay off past Jackson bonds for an interest saving, Fitch Ratings assigned an AA+ rating to the new bonds. The same rating was applied to the county’s general obligation bonds and to bonds used for PortMiami improvements. Fitch said the ratings are supported by the county’s financial resilience, health cash reserves, broad revenue-raising powers and an ability to adjust expenditures. Credit strength, Fitch wrote, is balanced against a middle-of-the-pack demographic and economic strength. 

PURCHASING TRAINING: Three Miami-Dade commissioners are seeking to extend the scope and reach of procurement training that Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has created. Legislation this week would see the training broadened beyond the purchase of goods and services to include construction procurement and refresher courses given at intervals that the mayor would recommend. The legislation would also open the training to city and town employees, with the county being compensated for the training via agreements with those municipalities. The legislation would also make the training available by both virtual and in-person instruction. “This board desires to do all it can to consistently procure quality good and services – including construction, architectural, and engineering services – at a fair price, chosen through a fair selection process,” says the resolution from Raquel Regalado, René García and Juan Carlos Bermudez. The academy deals with state, federal and local procurement rules and policies. 

NO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?: Florida voters would be asked to do away with the office of lieutenant governor and create a new Cabinet position of “commissioner of government efficiency,” under a proposed constitutional amendment filed in the state House that would give the commissioner of government efficiency authority to “audit, investigate and report on fraud, waste and abuse” in the executive branch and in local governments and special districts. If approved, it would go on the 2026 ballot. The proposal comes as Florida has a vacancy at lieutenant governor, after Jeanette Nuñez resigned to become interim president of Florida International University. The proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature by March 2027 to appoint a commissioner of government efficiency, who would serve until the office is up for election in 2028. The proposal also calls for eliminating the state Government Efficiency Task Force, which was created in a 2006 constitutional amendment.