I want to share something that has been weighing heavily on me. The Miami-Dade property tax system is crushing working families and shattering dreams. With the average home value at $523,000 in Miami-Dade, we are not talking about luxury estates — we are talking about everyday people like you and me trying to raise families, pay bills, and build a future.

I believe that if you own a home in Miami-Dade that’s your primary residence and valued under $1 million, you shouldn’t pay a dime in property taxes.

Here’s why I’m taking this stand:

• Fairness matters. Families in modest homes are being taxed like millionaires, and that isn’t right.

• The middle class is the backbone of our county. Property taxes are draining their savings and destroying generational wealth. We need to protect families, not punish them.

• I refuse to let service go unrecognized. Veterans, first responders, teachers, and retirees are being priced out of the communities they built That’s unacceptable.

• We need growth, not gridlock. When families keep more of their hard-earned money, they spend it here at home. That grows our local economy.

• Government must be accountable. Families are not ATMs. We don’t need bigger government — we need smarter government.

For me, this isn’t about numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about people, families, and the American Dream. It’s about protecting the very residents who make MiamiDade strong.

I will continue to fight for you, for our neighborhoods, and for a property tax system that works for the people — not against them.

Kionne L.McGhee Vice Chairman,

Miami-Dade County Commission, District 9