STATEMENT FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR DARIEL FERNANDEZ: STATE OF THE TAX COLLECTOR ADDRESS REBUILDING GOVERNMENT, DEFENDING RESIDENTS, AND DELIVERING RESULTS WITHOUT EXCUSES

Miami-Dade County, FL - April 08, 2026 – Today, we reaffirm our commitment to building a government that works for the people. Over the past year, our office has taken decisive action to transform how services are delivered, focusing on efficiency, accountability, and access for every resident of Miami-Dade County.

When we took office, the operational structure  was not meeting the needs of our community. Residents faced long wait times, limited access, and even fraud in the form of appointment scalping. We changed that. We eliminated long lines, restored access, and worked with local and state leaders to pass reforms that protect the public and ensure fairness for everyone.

We expanded our operations from state-managed offices to thirteen full-service locations under our leadership, while bringing in and supporting hundreds of employees to continue serving our community. Through modernization, we rebuilt systems, improved technology, and made services faster, more accessible, and more reliable.

At the same time, we focused on responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. We identified millions in savings, eliminated inefficient processes, and reinvested those resources back into improving services for our residents. We also supported initiatives that reduce unnecessary costs, simplify processes for small businesses, and strengthen our local economy.

Our commitment to integrity is clear. We conducted one of the most comprehensive reviews of disabled parking permits in our county’s history, canceling thousands of fraudulent permits and restoring access for those who truly need it. Through collaboration with our enforcement team and law enforcement partners, we have taken real action against fraud, including investigations that led to multiple arrests.

We have also enforced compliance with federal and state laws related to business activity, working in coordination with federal agencies to ensure accountability. This is about protecting our community, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring that our systems are not used to support unlawful activity.

I also want to thank our team for their dedication and commitment throughout this transformation, as well as our state partners at the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for their support and collaboration during this transition.

Beyond enforcement, we are committed to protecting families. Through initiatives like our Deed Prevention Outreach Project, we have worked directly with residents to prevent the loss of their homes, addressing issues early and providing real solutions when they matter most.

Looking ahead, we are expanding opportunity. We are launching new initiatives to help young people obtain identification, strengthening partnerships with educational institutions, and introducing new services such as passport processing, TSA PreCheck enrollment, and more. As a constitutional fee office, we remain committed to reinvesting resources back into our operations to continue improving service delivery.

Today, we are announcing a new partnership with Miami Dade College focused on workforce development, technology training, small business support, and expanding opportunity for residents across our county. This collaboration connects education with public service, creating new pathways for residents while strengthening how we deliver services.

As part of this partnership, we are also introducing a new member of our team, a TC Robot. This technology will interact with residents and employees in real-world environments, supporting innovation, improving customer service, expanding access, and helping develop the next generation of talent.

Innovation is not about replacing people. It is about strengthening how we serve them and making government simpler, faster, and more accessible for our community.

This is what government should be: efficient, accountable, and focused on people. We are not here to serve the system or special interests. We are here to serve the residents of Miami-Dade County. 

And we are just getting started.

God bless Miami-Dade County, and God bless the United States of America.