Joseph L. Kelley

Kelley has served on the commission through the period of the state-appointed financial oversight and has voted in favor of budgets and financial reforms aimed at addressing the city's long-standing fiscal distress. The State of Florida's financial emergency designation, first imposed in 2016, was partially lifted in stages during the early 2020s as the city met certain benchmarks. However, full financial independence has not been fully restored, and the city has continued to operate under some level of state oversight during Kelley's current term, meaning the goal of complete fiscal recovery remains a work in progress.

Opa-locka has historically struggled with police staffing shortages and at times relied on Miami-Dade County police for supplemental coverage. During Kelley's tenure, the commission has approved budgets that allocated funds toward police recruitment and retention, but the city's small tax base and financial constraints have limited the pace of improvements. Staffing levels have seen modest gains but remain below ideal levels for the community's needs.

The city has pursued infrastructure improvement projects including road resurfacing and drainage upgrades, some funded through state and federal grant programs. Kelley has voted in support of these capital improvement initiatives on the commission. Progress has been incremental due to the city's constrained financial position, and many infrastructure needs in the city remain unaddressed, leaving this as an ongoing effort rather than a fully realized commitment.