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The city of Hialeah approved the distribution of stimulus checks for homeowners over 65 years old, as part of a tax relief program that returns the municipal portion of property taxes paid in 2025. The measure benefits over 5,000 residents and will take effect during the fiscal year 2026.
The program does not eliminate or reduce the property tax. Property owners pay their taxes as usual and then receive a check equivalent to the portion that corresponds to the city of Hialeah.
As Telemundo 51 explained, "homeowners will pay their taxes as usual. Subsequently, the city will send them a check refunding the exact portion they paid to Hialeah."
The relief only covers municipal taxes - it does not include charges from Miami-Dade County or those from the school board.
Who qualifies?
The benefit is aimed at a specific group of property owners. To receive the check, the resident must:
-Be 65 years old or older.
-Be the legal owner of the property.
-Live in the property located in Hialeah.
- To have the Family Housing Exemption for Low-Income Seniors in effect as of January 1, 2025.
-Have family income not exceeding $37,694 annually.
-Not having received the Family Housing Exemption for Long-Term Florida Residents 65 and Older.
According to Mayor Bryan Calvo's statement to the Miami Herald, 5,141 residents meet the established requirements.
The program also sets a calculation limit based on a maximum assessed value of $200,000, which restricts the benefit even if the property has a higher valuation.
How much is the check?
The amount varies depending on each case. According to the Miami Herald, the check amounts to about 33 cents for every dollar paid to the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser, which is the portion that actually goes into the municipal coffers.
In practice, the payment functions as a reimbursement of the amount of municipal property taxes paid or owed in 2025.
Some property owners receive hundreds of dollars, while others may receive larger amounts, depending on the appraised value of their home.
For reference, the average assessed value of a single-family home in Hialeah is $223,519.
With the standard exemption of $50,000 for family homes, the municipal tax is around $964 annually; without that exemption, it can rise to approximately $1,279, according to budget data cited by the Miami Herald.
How the program is funded
The plan has an estimated cost of $1.2 million and is financed with the city's general fund, utilizing surpluses generated by early pension payments made in previous years.
According to details from the Miami Herald, these savings come from a strategy implemented during the administration of former mayor Esteban “Steve” Bovo, when early contributions were made to the pension system to reduce long-term interest costs.
At that time, resources were primarily allocated to infrastructure improvements. Now they are being redirected to direct financial assistance for elderly homeowners.
The town hall assures that the refund will not lead to cuts in public services nor represent an additional cost for the rest of the taxpayers.
A shift regarding previous statements
The initiative contrasts with previous statements made by Calvo himself. During a televised debate organized by Univisión 23 in October, when he was still a candidate, he rejected the idea of municipal subsidies.
"The city of Hialeah doesn’t print money, it takes it from our pockets," he stated.
"What those beside me do is try to fill a void by opening another."
Now, as mayor, he promotes a targeted subsidy for seniors with limited incomes.
When asked if the city will extend assistance to other needy groups—such as single-parent families or low-income residents who do not qualify—Calvo indicated that her current priority is to help the elderly, according to the Miami Herald.
Who is left out?
The program excludes tenants and homeowners who do not meet the income requirements or exemptions.
This occurs in a city where approximately 17% of the population lives below the poverty line and where the per capita income was $26,435 in 2024, while the average household income reached $55,559, according to Census data cited by the Miami Herald.
In Hialeah, total property taxes can range from $6,000 to $12,000 per year, depending on the property's value and other assessments.
These pressures have led some residents to rent out rooms, build additional units, or even resort to trailers to meet housing costs.
Last year, the then-interim mayor Jacqueline García-Roves proposed a one-time payment of $200 for all homeowners with permanent residency— a measure that would have benefited more than 32,000 people and cost around $6.4 million— but the proposal failed during the second reading.
State context and financial pressure
The approval of this program comes as the debate advances in Florida regarding the possible elimination of the property tax—except for the portion allocated to schools—a proposal supported by Governor Ron DeSantis and recently passed in the state House.
This situation raises concerns among local governments, which rely on those revenues to fund police, fire services, and infrastructure. Hialeah, with an estimated budget of $500 million, also faces contractual negotiations with three municipal unions, which could increase its salary and pension obligations.
Currently, about 33 cents of every dollar in property tax collected by the Miami-Dade Tax Collector goes to the city.
Any structural change in that system directly impacts the funds available for public services and programs such as the recently approved relief for senior homeowners.
The check has already been approved by the city. Now, thousands of seniors are awaiting the reimbursement that promises to alleviate, at least partially, the burden of municipal taxes in a context of increasing economic pressure.
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