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(Miami, FL) - Miami-Dade's mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, is holding her final budget town hall tonight at South Dade Regional Library in Cutler Bay.
She wants to hear from constituents about their needs and concerns before cutting millions from the county budget.
She says difficult decisions will need to be made to address the $400-million gap in the county's $3.6 billion-dollar general fund budget.
She calls the squeeze the biggest budget crunch since the 2008 financial crisis.
Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez is optimistic a heathy budget can be agreed upon by focusing on "necessities not wish lists."
The mayor blames increased costs from newly established constitutional offices like a sheriff, tax collector and supervisor of elections.
Florida’s largest local government is also struggling with paying for core services like police, jails, transit and parks.
The mayor says the county relies on property and sales taxes for the bulk of its revenue.
Currently, the governor and lawmakers are at odds over which taxes to cut which could mean less money coming from Tallahassee.
In addition, the administration is predicting a $53 million gap between transit expenses and money on hand to pay for Metrorail, Metromover and the bus system.
During her first term, the mayor negotiated lucrative labor contracts with pay raises that added $150 million to the budget this year.
Commissioners agree that nearly $100 million of the shortfall comes from unsustainable spending on grants and giveaways.
The mayor and commissioners hope to make careful cuts and arrive at a budget to be voted on by September.