Nobody left happy from the Miami-Dade Commission meeting Tuesday where our electeds dealt with the county’s $6.2 billion budget for the fi
rst time as a whole.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez can’t be happy that all three of his recommended tax rates — for the general fund, the fire department and the libraries — were not rubber stamped by the commissioners. He got his revenge on cops and firefighters in a meeting where he blamed the entire budget shortfall on the county’s greedy employees. But the commission — apparently heeding speaker after speaker who said that libraries were treasures that needed to be sustained — gave the bibliotecas a slight increase. “Let me be very clear. I will be vehemently against raising taxes,” Gimenez, who has said he would veto a tax increase, said at one point during the meeting.
Read related story: 5 things to know on Mayor’s $6.2 billion Miami-Dade budget
Library advocates can’t be happy, though. They wanted $64 million to not only save jobs but restore hours cut last year, continue to fund programs, plan for future needs — there are neighborhoods like Hialeah Gardens that still need a library — and increase materials and book purchases. Did you know that there is only $90,000 budgeted for children’s books and materials? They only got $51 million or so from their tax increase — Commissioner Xavier “Mayor Sir” Suarez’s motion to give them the whole $64 mil failed — though they inexplicably still get the general fund and fire department monies. The people with the blue shirts emblazoned with “Save the Libraries,” who had waited almost half a day for the vote, were heard outside commission chambers complaining about the lack of leadership shown today.
Animal lovers can’t be happy. The Pet’s Trust founders and a couple of supporters spoke in favor of attaining that no-kill shelter status that voters approved overwhelmingly, with 64% of the vote. But the commission chose to ignore them again.
Firefighters can’t be happy. They still got raided to the tune of $3.3 million to fund the libraries but won’t get the fireboat that maybe may have made a difference in the tragic death of four boaters on the Fourth of July. Maybe not. But the incident is an all too real reminder that we live in an area surrounded by water and another tragedy can be averted if we are better prepared. You cannot argue with that.
Fire Union President Al Cruz said it made no sense that they would still have to lose $3,3 million after being so close to severe cuts last year, when the mayor threatened to fire up to 149 firefighters and shut down units (read: rescue trucks).
“Please leave the millage flat,” Cruz cried to deaf ears, explaining that our paramedics force had gone from 2,200 to 1,900 in five years. He reminded them that this year, the fire budget was balanced with $9 million from the general fund reserves and an $11,000-a-year federal grant that expires after next year.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Cruz told Ladra, about having the $3.3 mil pulled out this year and added that, despite assurances from the administration, there is no guarantee the federal grant will be extended past 2014-15.
Cops can’t be too happy. There was no support for a move by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz to increase the general fund enough to keep all the police on the force. And Gimenez continued to downplay the firing of up to 230 officers, a move he said would not be felt on patrol. He said that some teams would be eliminated — like one SWAT team out of four — and others would be reduced in size. But he didn’t say that there would be entire units dismantled, like domestic violence, the Robbery Intervention Unit and the Tactical Narcotics Team. Details, details.
Read related story: Miami-Dade budget — a moving target of fuzzy math
PBA President John Rivera told Ladra the message the mayor sent was that “public safety is not a priority” and he said he hopes that at least most of the eliminated positions are vacant ones “they are carrying on the books right now.”
There’s more. Please press this “continue reading” button to “turn the page.”
Pages: 1 2
Miami-Dade budget: Library taxes up; police and fire, down added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
[…] Read related story — Miami-Dade budget: Library taxes up; police and fire? Down […]
I hope all this anger and sadness is not forgotten on Aug 26. Bell needs to go now. Then we can concentrate on Bovo (so appropriately named),and Zapata. and the Mayor in ’16
The county has an increase of 6.8% this year due to higher home values. Gimenez and the intelligent commissioners are trying to make it work.
#1John Rivera and the pandering commissioners are trying to get more. Speaking of nutri-system most police could use a diet that comports with their job, unless they are looking into tracking down escaped Stone Crabs, Filet Mignon and Foie Gras.
#2 Defund the CBOs which are nothing more than de facto county employees with benefits. Yes inflation was less than 2.5%, spend within your means.
[…] Tuesday’s county budget hearing was any indication, things are about to get a lot tougher for county […]
If you are “between insurance and property taxes…barely above water and live check to check” – then apparently your business sense sucks and you are a failure in my eyes. You drain this economy with your pitiful, pathetic little mass of capital. Feel free to apply to be my doorman or chauffeur. Try read a book about starting a business or saving money little, opinionated parasite. Enjoy filling out the 1040EZ form for losers.
Highly unlikely cops are going anywhere. Except for the few Carlos will lay off just to prove Rivera’s his bitch.
It’s just saber rattling for public consumption. The real target is the $400 million dollar self insurance piñata.
I really enjoy reading some of the crap the spills out of people’s computers.
He is some reality…..I don’t want my taxes raised anymore…..between insurance and property taxes I am barely above water and live check to check. Want fully funded libraries, then raise the library card fees, charge for the use of internet, and therefore be creative. Dont pay shopping centers to house libraries, find private partners to support libraries and cut pay to save jobs.
Want more cops…..then address salary issues, perks, the retirment at 50 and full pensions for life. I can’t afford to give anymore.
Our elected officials become corrupt the moment they don’t support a particular thought or opinion. So if they raise taxes I will consider them corrupt, if they hold the line then they become someone elses corrupt politician.
Gimenez, Bovo, Zapata are corrupt? PROVIDE IT……don’t just say becuase it is your uninformed reaction.
Blue Ribbon that studied the library issue (ALL FRIENDS THT WANTED TAXES TO GO UP)
So then who fights for me? Sosa, Bovo, Zapata, Bell and Gimenez….that’s who!!
If you can afford 14.00 dollars A YEAR your problem isn’t taxes buddy. Sell the boat, trade in the Benz and live within your means.
*can’t
Speaking about “uninformed reaction”, from what rock did you crawl out under? Refer to previous articles from Ladra or visit the Miami Herald archives so you can enlighten yourself about the massive absentee ballot fraud committed by Carlos Gimenez in 2012 with the help of Esteban Bovo. Did you miss the part where Bovo’s aid was collecting absentee ballots INSIDE Bovo’s county office? Have you not entered the county’s Internal Services webpage to review all the juicy contracts awarded to companies that are represented by the mayor’s buddy Jorge Luis Lopez? If you want to continue living with your head under a rock you can do so but don’t come here to peddle your half lies because no one is buying.
God knows Fulgencio Batista looks like a good guy next to “I really don’t like you” Gimenez ( not that much in my eyes ) maybe we can take his parasites to the veterinary and have them eliminated. Boy what a thrill to see them gone, and the dog cured. Well I can dream “RIGHT”;)
Speaking of libraries, we take our kids there to study, research and to learn the value of hard work and sacrifice. We tell them if they study, get good grades, go to college and become professionals, they will join the ranks of the middle class and provide a better lifestyle for their future family. Today nothing could be further from the truth. Of what good is to study and sacrifice when corrupt politicians such as Carlos Gimenez, Estaban Bovo, etc., violate election laws without punishment and continue to run this county as a fiefdom where only the well-connected have the opportunities promised to all? Take the appointment of Mr. Ferro as the new chief of staff for Mayor Gimenez. Mr. Ferro is the son of former Ambassador to Panama Simon Ferro, the same sinister subject who helped spring Luis Posada Carriles from a Panamanian prison. He is the cousin of Marcelo Llorente a phony opponent of Carlos Gimenez’s in a past mayoral race who only intended to steal votes and allow Gimenez to be elected. Was this job or any of the high paying jobs in this county ever put up for interviews? Not a chance. In this county only blind loyalty to Gimenez will get you a job. Meanwhile, cretins such as Rafael Garcia Toledo, Jorge Luis Lopez, the Munilla brothers and every connected parasite in this county continues to suck us dry. I believe history repeats itself. As discussed in many a Cuban American household when we were kids, isn’t this sort of cronyism part of the reason that brought us a monster such as Fidel Castro?. If that’s the case then Gimenez is nothing else than the reincarnation of Fulgencio Batista. History does repeat itself and hard work and study will not get you a job in this farm.
The mayor indicated at a Blue Ribbon Task force meeting that it’s not about doing the right thing, it’s politics. On this point, he was truthful. He made it political.
Today’s commission vote just placed the library system in a feeding frenzy amongst threatened departments. The police and fire staff won’t accept cuts without a noble fight at the September final vote and so departments are pitted against each other and the unions. Isn’t cock fighting and dog fighting a sick illegal bloodsport? Is this the legalized version?
This decision offers libraries just enough funding to keep the status quo with broken A/C, few books, etc. Ironically, the library won’t be considered Bovo/Zapata futuristic enough with hardly much improvement in materials or hours. Promised a Sunday? The branch just gets closed on Friday. A swicheroo. All the while the Mayor gets to rattle public opinion by saying that their taxes are hiked, through no fault of his own. If there is an impasse, where will he look for savings to make up the difference? Well, the library got a “hike” but it’s not set until the September 18th vote.
To be proactive, in his determination to hurt the surviving staff, after a three year quasi-freeze, the mayor finally allowed front line hires just prior to today’s outcome. They are all part-timers to fill up the ranks to match his plan of mass layoffs. Even if there may be no layoffs, expect part-timers to fill future openings.
Even after 11 hours and hundreds in attendance to overflowing the room, the library’s future is still dim.