While Miami-Dade contemplates hiking water rates to plug budget holes, North Miami Beach is moving in the opposite direction by approving what its leaders describe as the largest water relief package in the city’s history for more than 100,000 county residents.
City Commissioners this week unanimously approved the NMB Water Relief Act[1], a program that will cut bills for seniors, disabled residents, military families and other qualifying customers of its Norwood Water Treatment Plant[2].
It’s a great deal for those customers — if it goes into effect. At County Hall, legislation is advancing that could preempt the plan.
The fee cuts come as Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and County Commissioners look to increase water rates[3] by up to 6%, meaning the average household would pay more than $43 extra per year.
Mayor Michael Joseph, who sponsored the measure with Commissioners Phyllis Smith and Fortuna Smukler, said North Miami acted because the city believes “in lifting people, not holding them down.”
“While Miami-Dade is raising water rates, as your Mayor, North Miami Beach is leading with relief for homeowners,” he said in a statement. “We know every dollar counts, and despite the County’s pushback, we’re standing firm.”
The plan provides a 10% discount, up to $100 a year, for residents who qualify for certain state homestead exemptions, including those over 65, people with permanent disabilities, deployed service members and surviving spouses of first responders and veterans killed in the line of duty. Another program offers a prorated discount of up to $50 a year for customers who enroll in automatic bill payment.
The city also launched the NMB Water “Facts First[4]” campaign, an outreach initiative meant to promote conservation and transparency while underscoring the city’s commitment to affordable, safe and reliable water service.
But the new relief program faces opposition. Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, a former Mayor of neighboring Miami Gardens, is sponsoring an ordinance[5] that could restrict the city from implementing water relief measures.
Gilbert has long clashed with the city over its water policies, and he’s far from the only elected official with interest in the issue.
The Norwood plant, which North Miami Beach owns, is located in Miami Gardens and serves many of its residents. Miami Gardens has argued that the city was charging its residents unfairly, imposing a 25% surcharge on out-of-city customers.
The issue led to a lawsuit in 2018 that was settled last year, with North Miami Beach agreeing to pay Miami Gardens $9 million[6] to end the case.
To prevent similar conflicts, Democratic state lawmakers from Miami Gardens successfully sponsored legislation[7] during the 2025 Session to prevent similar conflicts by standardizing how municipalities charge neighboring communities for water.
The measure, sponsored by Sen. Shevrin Jones and Rep. Felicia Robinson, would have forced North Miami Beach to charge Miami Gardens the same rates it charges its own residents, since the Norwood plant sits within Miami Gardens’ city limits.
Joseph opposed the measure, arguing it would have cost North Miami Beach about $5 million a year and set a dangerous precedent for state overreach. Gilbert, by contrast, said the surcharge was “one community taking advantage of another.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis ultimately vetoed the bill[8] in July, saying it unfairly singled out two municipalities and should be resolved locally or with broader statewide legislation.
Gilbert’s legislation, which cleared a public hearing[9] this week, aims to create a local fix, albeit one of which Joseph and other city officials disapprove.
If passed, the ordinance would require North Miami Beach to file written copies of the terms and conditions it imposes on outside customers with the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, and to show whether any surcharges collected are used for water system operations and improvements.
Utilities that don’t cooperate could face a $500 fine per violation. If violations persist, the county could eventually take control over regulating or operating the utility under its home rule authority.
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References
- ^ NMB Water Relief Act (www.prnewswire.com)
- ^ Norwood Water Treatment Plant (www.pcl.com)
- ^ look to increase water rates (www.miamitodaynews.com)
- ^ Facts First (www.facebook.com)
- ^ ordinance (www.miamidade.gov)
- ^ agreeing to pay Miami Gardens $9 million (www.claimdepot.com)
- ^ successfully sponsored legislation (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ vetoed the bill (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ cleared a public hearing (www.miamidade.gov)