DEVELOPING STORY: Two months into the fiscal year, after approving what Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez promised was a 
balanced budget, the City of Retrogress announced this week that the city is actually facing a $28 million shortfall and may have to lay off dozens of police officers.
Hernandez blamed the “unsustainable” union benefits as the cause for the gaping hole, saying the city cannot meet its pension obligations. But the city signed contracts with the police union last year that lasts through 2016.
The shortfall hit the news Tuesday after someone leaked a memo from Hialeah City Attorney Lorena Bravo to the PBA explaining that the city can’t meet about half of its $55 million obligation for the police pension for 2014 and 2015.
“After a thorough review of its finances to identify all available sources of savings and revenue, including cuts in services, the city anticipates it is short approximately $28 million,” Bravo wrote, laying out possible solutions that includes layoffs, furloughs and a change in the work week.
But is someone going to tell us the mayor didn’t know this in September when he presented the balanced budget? Can it be that the budget was illegitimate and illegal the whole time? Can someone tell Hernandez that he can’t run the city like he runs his shadow banking business?
Speaking of which, doesn’t he know a couple of people (read: former Mayor Julio Robaina) who could float him a loan? Maybe he’ll cut you a break on the 36% interest.
Gov. Rick Scott failed to suspend Hernandez earlier this year after the sitting mayor testified in the federal trial against Robaina and, under oath, admitted that he was a loanshark, charging 36% interest on at least one loan. Will Scott ignore this obvious fiscal blunder, too?
It’s like the political gods gave the guv a second chance.
Hialeah’s budget shortfall may cause cuts to police force added by Ladra on
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It’s simple. Carlos Hernandez is incompetent.
The corruption and violation of public trust in this county continues to evolve. Just this past Wednesday, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Addi Villanueva was demoted from her position as head of the FDLE Miami Office and given the choice of a demotion or resignation. The second in command in the office was given the same choice and has since resigned. According to FDLE, there is an ongoing investigation by an outside agency into misuse of overtime (possibly from LETF funds). How long are public officials in charge of agencies that are expected to enforce the laws of this state continue to discredit their badges? Enough corruption already.
No problem here. Have the mayor continue his loan sharking venture going at 35% and soon enough there will be enough money to pay off everybody! What a country!
Too many Not qualify hands . Another Mayor found 48 K on a desk !
!
The mayor needs to tell the truth the 55 million is the total owed from years of not paying the city’s share this just didnot happen over night. This goes back all the way to Raul days in office . I think they should start by taking his and robainas retirement away . Carlos you have to raise taxes you cannot keep lowering the taxes for votes. The whole council should be held accountable . You have already hit the employes for your misgivings time to tax the people. Hialeah has way to many people useing services that they do not pay for . Cancel all events no art on Palm . But instead you will just punish the city employes . And blame us , but wait aren’t you going to collect a nice mayor retirement when you leave . Carlos should give his police pension back . That would be start .
All elected and appointed officials should pay with their jobs.
What they are doing is pandering to the public and putting the shortfall on public servants (again). It’s time to charge the money handlers once and for all