Mayor Bryan Calvo cast the relocation as evidence that municipal federal government could move much faster than the state. “They stated it couldn’t be done, and we did it,” Calvo said. “And we did it in less than 45 days of this new administration.”
He framed the program as budget‑neutral for other homeowners. “It indicates that we are not cutting any services, we are not eliminating any services, and at the exact same time, we are not raising taxes on any other revenue stream,” Calvo stated.
He added that the city “front‑loads a few of our pension dedications” to maximize approximately $1.2 million for the refunds.
Under the ordinance, homeowners need to be a minimum of 65, own and reside in a homesteaded property in Hialeah and report yearly income of $37,694 or less, matching the state limit for specific senior exemptions.
Certified families who already got the senior exemption are set to get checks automatically by the end of March, with typical rebates around $539.