Guest Author
As Mayor of North Miami Beach, it is my duty to set the record straight about the ongoing water dispute between our city and Miami Gardens. There’s been a lot of emotion, plenty of speeches, and even some political theater — but at the end of the day, the truth still matters.
For over 70 years, North Miami Beach has operated the Norwood Water Treatment Plant, which we purchased and maintained long before Miami Gardens was established as a city. Today, that plant serves more than 170,000 residents across the region, including parts of Miami Gardens, Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Golden Beach and unincorporated Miami-Dade areas like Biscayne Gardens.
We charge a 25% surcharge to non-NMB resident customers — including approximately one-third of Miami Gardens — to ensure the cost of maintaining this infrastructure is shared equitably. That’s not exploitation — it’s responsible governance and reflects the reality of how a free-market utility model functions. You use a service, you pay your fair share. It’s simple.
Let’s not forget: when the COVID-19 pandemic froze the economy and families were struggling, North Miami Beach stepped up. We absorbed delinquent payments, halted shutoffs, and kept our utilities running smoothly for every customer — without compromising service or safety. While other systems faltered, not one household went without water on our watch. We didn’t ask for a bailout; we made sacrifices and honored our commitment to the community.
Now, there’s a push in Tallahassee to strip away the surcharge — but only for one city. Let me be clear: you can’t rob Peter to pay Paul. A blessing for one group cannot become a burden for everyone else. If this legislation passes, the loss of roughly $5 million a year — including over $100,000 in annual surcharge revenue from Hard Rock Stadium alone — will have to be covered by every other water customer. That’s not justice. That’s Communism.
And what’s worse, we’re being asked to accept this while Miami Gardens continues charging its own residents a 10% utility tax — on water they don’t even treat or deliver. If this were truly about helping residents save, they could start there. But it’s easier to pass the buck than to cut your own tax.
North Miami Beach has made every attempt to work this out neighbor-to-neighbor. We waived surcharges for government accounts. We invited discussion. We offered options. But instead of negotiation, Miami Gardens went to Tallahassee to flex its political muscle.
Nonetheless, Miami Gardens has real alternatives to choose from:
— Transition fully to Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer, which already serves two-thirds of their city.
— Build and operate their own water utility.
— Or, if they want full control, buy out NMB Water.
What they shouldn’t do is try to legislate a shortcut that punishes an award-winning and successful utility to subsidize inefficiency and sidestep responsibility.
If made into law, SB202/HB11 would set a bad precedent for government overreach. It’s an unnecessary burden — another cost compounded on the backs of working families at the worst possible time. It undermines the principles of local control, free enterprise and personal accountability. If we’re going to talk about fairness, it has to be fairness for everyone — not just those with louder voices or better political connections.
As we say in church, “What’s done in the dark will come to light,” and “The truth shall set you free.” This issue deserves light, not shadows — truth, not politics.
___
Michael Joseph is the Mayor of North Miami Beach.
9 comments
Anonymous
April 30, 2025 at 2:15 pm
Wait… so the Republican legislature is siding with one group of Democrats to get free water services from another city run by Democrats? What’s the deal here?
Stephanie Kienzle
May 6, 2025 at 11:20 am
The Republican legislature has gone rogue lately.
Paul Passarelli
April 30, 2025 at 2:33 pm
I don’t know why these questions, meaning those that cover municipal infrastructure are always presented as being so difficult?
There are 100% FAIR resolutions that are both possible & practical. That said, they are a lot of work, but it’s only clerical work, and by a lot, I mean it could be accomplished in ~90 days by the billing department. — IF THEY WERE SO INCLINED —
Daisy B Tarrio sanchez
May 2, 2025 at 6:42 pm
No es justo todo sube para unos y nada para otro estos politicos estan solo pensando en cuanto les toca del pastel.mientras que el pueblo paga cada vez en todo y despues tienen cara de criticar a Diaz Canel y su comitiva.cuando ellos son iguales de hipocritas.que horror es vivir asi
julien bohbot
May 2, 2025 at 9:30 pm
No, you cannot increase the water bills at this time. Everything is so expensive. I am against increasing the water pricing.
Stephanie Kienzle
May 6, 2025 at 11:21 am
That’s literally not what’s going on here.
Stephanie Kienzle
May 5, 2025 at 4:06 pm
While I am absolutely no fan of Michael Joseph (https://wp.me/p20gv9-dRe), like the proverbial broken clock that’s right two times a day, in this instance he is absolutely correct.
The City of North Miami Beach (NMB) had purchased that water plant and the land it sits on 50 years before Miami Gardens was incorporated on May 13, 2003. NMB has continuously maintained, renovated, and upgraded this plant at the expense of its own taxpayers, including but not limited to the expense of its employees and their pensions and other benefits.
Customers and business owners outside of NMB city limits do not share in these expenses, and therefore, are being charged an additional surcharge to cover their fair share of them.
Now Miami Gardens is crying foul and wants to purchase NMB’s water at the same rate as its own residents and business owners enjoy, without having to pay its share of the maintenance and upkeep.
THIS IS FLAT OUT WRONG AND LITERAL THEFT!
Because of the dirty tactics of Oliver Gilbert, former Miami Gardens Mayor/current Miami-Dade Commissioner, he was able to “flex political muscle” in Tallahassee to enable this ripoff of North Miami Beach taxpayers.
The Florida legislators were bamboozled by Gilbert and his cronies in Miami-Dade County. Hopefully, Governor DeSantis will veto this horrific bill!
As much as I really hate agreeing with someone as despicable as Michael Joseph, I have to admit that when he’s right about something I have no choice but to tell it like it is.
Harold Ballsworth
May 7, 2025 at 5:24 pm
Stephany, while he is correct in his position in regards to the surcharge, he is out of his mind when he states the CNMB should divest itself of the 12,800 water accounts located in Miami Gardens. The city makes $$ on all its water accounts. There is a markup on the charges for water and sewer even without the surcharge. Reducing the number of accounts does not proportionately reduce the cost of all the City’s fixed expenses. Additionally, the water utility bond covenants conditions would not permit a sale or giveaway of the water system in Miami Gardens.
There are other ways to skin a cat to get back some of the lost revenue. There are over 1087 fire hydrants located in MG. These. Hydrants need to be tested andnually. A $375 charge for doing this would result in a $412,000 charge to MG for this service The city attorney should be researching this for legality.
Andrew Marshall
May 9, 2025 at 11:15 am
“The truth shall set you free.”; Keep up the Great Service to NMB community,
We all thank you Mayor Michael Joseph
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