Key Ballot Issues For Miami-Dade Voters
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - While the spotlight has been on the close race between Republican Governor Rick Scott and challenger Charlie Crist in this Tuesday's General Election, Miami-Dade voters have several other races and issues to decide.
For example, the race for U.S. Congressional District Seat 26 is being closely watched. Democrat Joe Garcia is running for re-election against Republican Miami-Dade School Board member Carlos Curbelo. Like the race for governor, this one is too close to call.
Voters will also decide if the county should be allowed to break its lease with the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition organization so the land can be used for an expansion of Florida International University. FIU is asking the public to please vote yes while the fair says there is nowhere else for them to go.
FIU said the expansion would not be done for eight to nine years. It would create a number of additional jobs in addition to the 10,000 students they say would have an economic impact of $541 million a year.
The Fair says they pump in about $100-200 million a year with all their expos and the fair.
The county has a contract with the Fair that runs through 2040 with extensions until 2085.
Another issue on the ballot is a property tax increase to pay for a new civil courthouse which has a price tag of about $400 million. The county says they need a new building because their aging facility at 72 West Flagler has a leaking roof, peeling facade and a basement that floods in heavy rain.
At 360 feet, the downtown Miami building was for years Florida's tallest. It is designated as a historic structure so it cannot be demolished. A replacement courthouse would be located elsewhere.
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