Newly released tax records show the nonprofit A3 Foundation billed Miami-Dade County more than $400,000 for last year’s Miami-Dade rodeo, despite spending significantly less on the event, raising renewed questions about how public dollars were handled.
According to the foundation’s 2024 IRS filing, A3 reported spending $279,137 on CountryFest — the annual rodeo-style festival held at Tropical Park. But one year earlier, the group invoiced Miami-Dade $421,000 for tents, vendors, food trucks, and other expenses tied to the same event. County officials paid the full amount.
The tax filing — the first detailed financial look into the foundation’s operations — shows roughly $142,000 in county funds went unused.
The A3 Foundation released the tax return through its attorney, following a request under federal disclosure rules requiring nonprofits to make such filings available to the public. The documents arrive as the charity faces scrutiny from both local prosecutors and county leadership.
Prosecutors Reviewing Foundation’s Spending
Emails reviewed by The Florida Pundit show a Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office lawyer declined to release correspondence about the A3 Foundation due to an “open and pending investigation.” The exact focus of the probe remains unknown.
The foundation has been under increased scrutiny after reports revealed it received more than $1 million in county allocations over the past two years for the Miami-Dade rodeo, without providing backup receipts or itemized expenses. Most payments originated from the office of County Commission Chair Anthony Rodriguez, who hosts the event in his district.
Rodriguez’s staff relied on the A3 Foundation as a financial middleman, approving invoices submitted by the charity and sending county funds directly to the group. A3 then paid event producer Loud and Live, a Doral-based entertainment company responsible for rides, entertainment, and festival operations.
Tax Filings Reveal Limited Operations
The foundation’s 2024 tax return lists CountryFest as its sole program, described as a mission to promote agricultural awareness and community priorities. The $279,137 listed in expenses closely matches what Loud and Live said it was paid for the event.
Beyond rodeo-related costs, the filing notes:
- $15,000 spent on travel
- $10,419 on conferences or meetings
- $26,824 in compensation to director Francisco Petrirena
- $92,500 spent on professional fundraising services
- $135,000 remaining in cash at the end of 2024
The foundation took in $545,000 in revenue in 2024, with 80% coming from Miami-Dade County.
The group also received more than $100,000 in private donations, many from companies listed by Rodriguez’s staff on a “CountryFest sponsorship tracker” circulated internally before the event.
County Reverses Course After Scrutiny
In July, county commissioners approved a contract requiring Loud and Live to donate $250,000 annually to the A3 Foundation as part of its management deal for Tropical Park — a recommendation backed by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and sponsored by Rodriguez.
After public scrutiny, commissioners later voted to redirect those funds to the Miami-Dade Parks Foundation instead.
The A3 Foundation also secured a $950,000 appropriation in the state budget — including a $450,000 item backed by Florida House Speaker Danny Perez — though it remains unclear whether the charity will ever receive the state money.
As for 2025, Rodriguez’s office returned an uncashed $200,000 county check issued for rodeo expenses after media reports raised questions about transparency.
The foundation’s 2025 tax return, which may offer more insight into its operations and the Miami-Dade rodeo spending, won’t be available until 2026.
