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But there are zero from the county attorney’s office, which a Miami Herald story recently found to be the area with the most bloated salaries. Ladra is told that the mayor cannot make any layoff or salary cuts there. That is set entirely by the commission. But the mayor has recommended a 5% cut. Oh, and commissioners keep all their staff and the mayor keeps all but two of his staff. He’s lost two communications staffers but keeps two, because he once had four in his budget.
Gimenez complains that cops are paid too much, and the Miami Herald told us that attorneys are paid too much. But one quick look in a couple of hours through the transparency salary search on the county’s website indicates that there are many high salaries that the mayor and his supporters do not criticize as much as they do cops and firefighters and librarians.
The director of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens makes $160,500 a year. He gets an $6,175 paycheck every two weeks. The same department has a director of advancement who makes $115,000 a year — you know, because the director himself can’t do that. We have a park planner that makes $105,000 and an architect in parks and recreation who makes $126,200 and a transportation systems manager who makes $123,000 — but doesn’t work in transit. He’s in the Metropolitan Planning Organization (the director of which makes $190,000) in one of several positions that look, on the surface, like they overlap with other county positions. Do we really need so many high priced executives to do basically the same thing?
We still remember when we paid two Port of Miami directors at the same time, and that one of them got a raise from $120,000 to $290,000 so he wouldn’t leave to Jacksonville when the other one left to the Beacon Council. We got to keep Juan Kuryla, for an $11,150 paycheck every two weeks. Oh, and wait, we also got to keep Bill Johnson, who never went to the Beacon Council, and is still paid $275,000 now to head the Water and Sewer department. That’s a $10,600 paycheck home every two weeks.
Why hasn’t the Inspector General, who makes $206,000 a year and has multiple staffers who make six figures, caught on to this?
Even within his own office, the mayor has some hefty salaries that don’t seem to be touched by his budget cut measures. Sure, he self-imposed a pay cut when he first took office that means his measly biweekly paycheck is just $5,770. El pobrecito. But each of his five deputy mayors make more for a combined $1.2 million. And there are six assistants to the five deputy mayors that make between $87,000 and $109,000 a year. Then there’s his chief of staff, Lisa Martinez, who makes $180,000 a year — a nice bump from the $130,000 she made just last year as his senior policy aide — and his legislative and policy aide, Inson Kim, who makes $105,000 a year, which is a pretty good raise from the $62,000 salary she made when she was Gimenez’s commission aide in 2010.
Nice work, if you can get it… or, stomach it, rather.
There were more than 700 layoffs last year, too. But while 717 positions were eliminated, 391 were added for a net reduction 326. The year before that, there were 728 positions eliminated and 133 added for a net reduction of 595. But neither one of those years compare to Gimenez’s first in office, the one with the massive tax cut after the mayor was elected. The 2011-2012 budget adjusted to the new reality saw the elimination of 1,398 positions and addition of 259 for a net loss of 1,139 jobs.
And people wonder why there is so much overtime in police and fire. This is why, folks.
There has to be a point at which this is not sustainable. Gimenez has already reduced the workforce by more than 2,000 people — albeit maybe not the right people — in the interest of holding the line on an artificial tax rate and utilizing a rob-peter-to-pay-paul policy that is unsustainable.
He drained the library reserves by shifting its millage to the general fund — in other words, lowering the library millage rate to raise the millage rate for the general fund, defacto raising the tax rate without taxpayers noticing — and now wants to dip into $3 million of the fire department’s reserves to subsidize the library fund he raided. This is the same fire department that faced layoffs and eliminated units — rescue trucks, fire ladders, etc — last year.
Apparently, Gimenez likes to pass the buck — or the pea, as it were, since he does often look like a magician performing a shell game, trying to pass the pea from under one shell to the the other without anyone noticing the slight of hand. That is why we will be paying more to the Miami Heat in subsidies in 2030 and the “up to” $5 million a year payments from tourist taxes to the Miami Dolphins — for events they would have anyway — starting 10 years from now. By then, Gimenez will be safely out of office and have sold his million dollar Coconut Grove home so he could move to Broward, where his golden parachute pension from his city of Miami days will stretch further.
But this passing the buck is not sustainable in the long run for the rest of us who plan to stick around or are left behind.
In 2011, just three years ago and less than three weeks after he was elected in that post-recall craziness, Gimenez cut taxes by an irresponsible 12 percent — or $130 for every $100,000 of taxable property. He did that because he promised, in the recall campaign and the mayoral campaign that followed, to undo the tax increase (which was 13%) approved under the reign of former recalled Mayor Carlos Alvarez.
But what Gimenez still fails to understand (or wants us to believe he doesn’t understand) isn’t that the voters recalled Alvarez on the tax hike per se. It’s that he had the gall to float that tax hike while he rewarded his cronies with big, fat raises and gave away the bank to the Miami Marlins and others (because Ladra is sure there were other sweetheart deals back then, too).
Gimenez keeps saying that he knows the public doesn’t want to pay more taxes for more services, when we’ve all heard just the opposite in the community. Wait, didn’t the Pet’s Trust initiative get a 64% vote from a public willing to tax itself more for a no-kill shelter with a spay and neuter program that would actually make a difference (more on that later)? But he’s been able to ignore that and say the people will not support a tax increase to fund better services or even keep them intact?
What the public doesn’t want is to pay more taxes so that millions can be given away to museums and sports teams and cruise companies and the businesses that employ the mayor’s children in what some people call his “circles of love” and Ladra calls the Friends and Family Plan.
Are these five things all you have to know about the Miami-Dade 2014-15 budget? Not. Even. Close. We are talking about a 600-page-plus document that some believe is intentionally made unnecessarily complicated so that people (read: taxpayers, voters, you) are intimidated and prevented from asking questions. It even scares Ladra.
But it’s a good start on Day One to have some history and a different perspective. And perhaps these 5 things to know about the budget can lead to some hard questions and review of the decisions that are made by this administration.
The mayor insists people do not support a tax increase — no way, no how. “I’m not deaf,” he told the Miami Herald.
Ladra would say he is deaf, blind, dumb and unable to smell something fishy.
Or he thinks we are.
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All comments are good, but it’s a lot of talk. The only way we can stop this, is to go out and protest! Only way it will works. By making comments which he doesn’t read or care, he will get his budget passed. The pressure needs to be put commissioners! Need to send letters to them and make calls. Have people sign petitions and present to the commissioners that they will be recalled.
Want to see results, only way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We need the whole media exposing the facts the way it is.
As long as a deliberate attempt exists to covert the truth by the Media in Miami Dade County, we will not be able to bring back confidence to the public, as the credibility of local Government will continue to shattered.
Read my twitter page at mycampaign2014
Gimenez’ is not a leader, by far. His little rage episode with Defede demonstrates who he really is. I hope he keeps exposing the mayor and his real agenda. This guy can. Remember Defede and former Commissione Arthur Teele and how that ended. Hopefully this will be the end of of the divisive tyrant.
The mayor has awoken a sleeping giant by the name of Jim Defede. The mayor was cocky and unprofessional in his interview with Defede, and if he thinks this is the end of it, he’s in for a nice treat.
Defede will do whatever it takes to uncover the wrong-doings and injustices that he allowed.
Got-A-Point: Yes, it was me who set your figures straight. Apparently, you still don’t get it. That’s ok. You can always go back and re-read it if needed. I did my homework and my figures are on “point”…no pun intended. Police has already done more than their part in helping to balance the budget? What do you propose? How much more would you like police to give back to “balance” this budget? When is the community gonna help with the budget? Shouldn’t the millage be adjusted already? There is a lot that can be done, besides what the police has already done, to balance this budget and it is NOT being done. You either really don’t get that or just don’t care.
The 2014-15 budget proposal is an insult to the community!
Remember “For the People by the People”
Why not ask the what the people’s choices are?
We, the people are the tax payers after all.
Top priority should be our safety at home, on the road, in schools, and at events; therefore it is not a good idea to reduce the police force, the same goes for the fire department.
Miami lives from tourism, visitors want to visit and feel safe.
Libraries, parks, stadiums are nice but not a life saving necessity.
Reduce and eliminate the $200 mil and more (downtown) office county employees’ salaries.
Revisit the numbers of animals killed at the shelter at a cost of $300 per animal killed (FY2005-2012 147,011 animals were killed; tax payers cost $42 million)
Increase retention and adoptions which creates revenue for the general county fund.
Got -a-point, the loss of our budget is due to the hiring of unscrupulous contractors who hang around the Stephen Clark building like vultures circling carrion. Those same contractors, such as the Munilla brothers and consultants such as Garcia Toledo and Jorge Luis Lopez are the ones kicking back political contributions and Lord knows what else to Gimenez. Just like you I’m pretty tired of John Rivera’s antics but to be honest with you I believe Gimenez is ten times worse than Rivera. As citizens we pay taxes for services not to build museums, sports stadiums or to give it away to out of state contractors. Let’s get rid of Gimenez and bring some sanity back to local government.
Dean Barrister,
Your deliberate attempt to rewrite history is futile. I am not a Gimenez supporter nor anti-police, but I am a true advocate of “Good Government”. The Miami-Dade Police Union absolutely supported the Strong Mayor format as they knocked on my door to support it several year’s back. So please do me a favor and do not tell me otherwise.
Furthermore, no organization whose personnel cost consist of 80% of its budget expenses is sustainable. I know it is tough to hear, but the County must shrink. I am not saying that all personnel reductions must come from the Police Department, but there should be no sacred cows in the reduction process.
There is a reason I live in Coral Gables and I’m glad to pay for better services. This is the goal of the Mayor, to screw the citizens of the unincorporated areas and force them to either annex or incorporate. He is either gambling on the hope that crime will not rise until he is out of office or he has really bad advisors on Public Safety. If things go wrong he can always do what he does and blame the greedy unions. Forget that he once enjoyed the benefits of being a union member and that his wife does as well. The quality if life in Miami Dade County will continue to decrease and that is the measure if a Mayor.
and let’s not forget that the “I don’t like you ” mayor is very generous with his salary because he receives from the city of Miami a retirement check of $12,000 a month, so when he leaves Dade County he will have another retirement check of close to $10,000 a month, and then the little wife will have her retirement from the school system of probably around another $10,000. Now my question is would you be satisfied with more than $ 30,000 a month ( of tax payers $ ) coming into your bank account for your expenses, I can’t think of anyone that would not like it, “Gee” some people are so lucky!!! Poor tax payer:(
Gimenez and this community has forgotten what the old days in this County was like with its violent crime. In the late 80’s homicides were at an all time high. Robberies were at 6,400 a year and tourists were being killed on a daily basis on our streets. As a result in a desperate attempt they created the Robbery Intrrvention Detail (RID). Robberies are now lower than 2,000 a year. Narcotics were being sold in every street corner predominantly in low income neighborhoods, as a result they created the Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT). These units along with more officers on the road helped bring violent crimes down. We are now down 400+ officers, 300 more have to retire, and now there’s the threat of losing another 250 officers. Really?
Gimenez is not a leader, by far. How can you put your community’s safety in jeopardy. At first the deficit was $200 million now it’s $62 million so what is it? I know you want pain, “there’s going to be pain.” What leader says that. You are the worst leader and divisive mayor Miami-Dade County has ever had.
Btw, I was remiss in saying great article Ladra! Great job
Dear Got-a-Point: hate to advise you but the police labor union never supported a strong Mayor form of government as they already had several tastes with Hialeah’s several ill fated “Strong Mayors “. So, as you can see, this is one of those one out of ten times that you are not on point. In fact, they have publicly been vocal that it is a failure. Another fact is that Gimenez himself publicly stated that a strong Mayor form of government is a bad idea.
If we really want a dictator, then let’s travel 90 miles from here and examine how that’s working for its people.
Lastly, Gimenez semis to wanting to destroy the county and give much to the City of Miami, where he once came from and seems inserted in being the city Mayor-leaving the rest of us high and dry.
Lastly, look at communities that have little or no crime to speak of. They are either gated or have high police presence-maybe both. Either way, they pay more taxes for that security and quality of life.
Thank you for your attention to details
Daisy,
The Miami-Dade Police Union is a powerful lobbying group who supported the strong mayor format, because their pal at the time, Mayor Carlos Alvarez, was lining their pockets.
Please do us Miami-Dade County Residents a favor and stop with the short-term memory.
By the way for the person who several days ago stated my budget figures for Miami-Dade and Broward County, respectively, was incorrect. I beg to differ. You never took into account the Capital Budget.
Please understand. When I make a point, usually 9 out 10 times, I will be on point.
Good government is a perspective where you have standards or interests prioritized based on your needs. I hope you have access to a firearm and possess good skill sets if your home gets burglarized, become victim of any physical confrontation, or defend the life of a loved one/friend. Since you live across the street from the arrogant cry baby tyrant, you shouldn’t have any problems …right? Both of you cowards aren’t sustainable due to your deliberate indifference in securing the citizens/taxpayers. Why not cut his deputy mayors and legal staff? Have you investigated their earnings? Have you investigated how much the Tyrant’s son has earned from the red light camera system contract in the county? Do you know how many pensions your man is collecting? And how about his spouse? She earned more than 100k per year at DCPS. What a fraud! It appears you have insufficient knowledge as a true advocate of “good government”. Just the facts! There is nothing sacred in politics. Reduce from the top and prioritize county services as promised across the country.
When the shootings outside your house, the potholes on the street, the weeds on the median, the broken pipes, the overflowning trash, the inoperable bridges and causeways, etc., become to much to bear, the uninformed and aparhy filled voters of this county will come to regret not having paid $20 more in taxes to maintain a standard level of county services, having approved a strong mayor format and having voted for a self serving blue blooded wannabe SOB such as Carlos Gimenez.
I work the streets folks, if you think it’s okay to cut services, you are wrong. The streets are violent and crime is up. I have never seen it this bad in 20 plus years under this Mayor. Remember, cops are first responders, if you, your mother, father or your kids have a life or death emergency a cop will be the first one there in most cases and they HAVE saved many lives. So for those of you who are okay with more cuts wether it’s police or fire, please think about your families. What’s more important to you, a safe environment for your family and kids to live in or more cuts by a man that can’t balance a budget when everything he asked for 3 years ago from his employees was given to him and yet, here we are again with his pathetic excuses again. A lot of the employees lost their homes because of these cuts and suffered in many ways. The Dade county employees did not put this County in this position, our politicians did with their stupid spending.
Remember what you see In the media is only a small percent of what is really happening in Dade County. It’s your county, take control, you do have a say.
I couldn’t agree with you more! Thanks for your clear and concise summary of the issues.
Well; if turning our county into a ghetto or banana republic is what the mayor wants to do, I guess that he is accomplishing just that year after year. The deterioration of the quality of life is advancing fast, making what used to be a place where people would want to invest and come to work and live, a place that caters to those who want everything for free. I was hoping that our mayor would lead our county into prosperity, it looks like that is not going to happen as we keep taking steps backward.
Thank you for publishing this. These high salaried jobs should be posted more often and compared to the private sector. Also compare them to number of people who are looking for similar jobs. New graduates etc. Then start negotiating from that point.
Many departments can be modernized with the goal to reduce manpower; Use persons that are trained in high tech skills to help accomplish this. Take a look at other modern countries and cities.
I was just in Europe. We are falling behind in America.
You are correct, unfortunately not even the media prints the reality in Miami Dade County Today.