As the cost of living continues to rise, residents are asking an important question. While government cannot control every price, it can control how responsibly it spends, how efficiently it operates, and how many opportunities it creates for the people it serves.
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Over the past month, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with residents, business owners, and young professionals throughout our community. Regardless of their background or profession, one concern continues to come up:
The cost of living.
Families are feeling it at the grocery store. Young professionals are feeling it when they search for their first home. Seniors are feeling it as insurance premiums and HOA fees continue to rise.
The question is no longer whether Miami-Dade is becoming more expensive. The question is: What can government actually do about it?
While no single level of government controls the cost of living, I believe local government has a responsibility to be part of the solution.
That starts with leading by example.
This year, I proposed reducing Doral’s operating millage rate for the second time during my administration. If approved, Doral will continue to have the lowest municipal operating millage rate in Miami-Dade County. Yet at the same time, we continue investing in public safety, parks, infrastructure, and the quality of life our residents expect.
That didn’t happen by accident.
It happened because we challenged ourselves to operate more efficiently, pursue public-private partnerships, invest in revenue-generating assets, and look for innovative ways to deliver exceptional services without simply asking taxpayers to pay more.
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To me, that’s what responsible government looks like.
Floridians deserve meaningful tax relief. Families are working hard, and government should always look for ways to reduce the burden on taxpayers. At the same time, lasting tax relief requires thoughtful planning. Every community depends on essential local services—from police officers and parks to road maintenance and infrastructure—and any long-term changes should preserve the quality of life that makes our neighborhoods strong.
The goal shouldn’t be to choose between lower taxes and strong communities. The goal should be to achieve both. But affordability is about more than taxes. Government also has a responsibility to create opportunity.
Every company we attract to Miami-Dade, every permit we streamline, every unnecessary regulation we eliminate, and every high-paying job we help create gives families a better chance to succeed. Economic development isn’t just about attracting investment it’s about ensuring our residents benefit from it.
Doral has shown that fiscal discipline, responsible budgeting, economic growth, and strategic public-private partnerships can work together. They are not competing priorities. They are the foundation for making government more efficient while protecting the services residents depend on.
The American Dream has always been built on opportunity the belief that if you work hard, you can build a better future for your family.
Government cannot create that dream.
But it has a responsibility to make sure it doesn’t stand in its way.
These are the conversations Miami-Dade should be having.
Next month, let’s talk about something every resident experiences every day: transportation. Because when we talk about the cost of living, we should also talk about the cost of time.
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Written by: Christi Fraga, City of Doral Mayor