The City of Miami is proposing a citywide hiring freeze and trimming budgets across all departments. This initative is to address a $21 million shortfall amid this COVID-19 economic downturn. Even as South Florida’s economy slowly reopens, losses from closures and stay at home orders that were meant to slow the spread of the virus are yet to be felt.

Proposed adjustments to the City’s budgeting includes deferring upgrades to A/C units at police facilities and a quarter-million-dollar upgrade to its information technology systems. A hiring freeze will also keep vacant positions open longer, which may impact city operations in the long run.