There seems to be some question as to whether or not Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is going to actually increase his own salary. While county commissioners approved a budget Thursday that maxes it out at $250,000 — which is $100K more than he makes right now — Gimenez was coy with the media about whether or not he would apply the budget maximum.
One minute he says he thinks he deserves it and the next he tells a Miami Herald reporter that he “may give money back.”
Then why ask for the increase?
Read related: Termed out Mayor Carlos Gimenez gives self undeserved 70% pay raise
Don’t be fooled (again). Gimenez — who was rebuffed when he asked commissioners to restore the seat’s pre-2011 $325,000 salary last December in a mid-year budget amendment — has every intention of hiking that salary up. He has three great reasons to do it:
1. He gets to pad his pension
The Florida Retirement System formula pays benefits on a 
fixed formula and is determined by age, years of service and “the average of the highest five or eight fiscal years of pay.” By jacking his own salary up $100,000 for the last two years to $250,000, he significantly improves that average.
FRS pensions for elected officials are calculated at 3% for each year of service (poor ol’ regular employees only get 1.6%). Gimenez has 16 years, including seven as commissioner before being elected in the recall election of 2011. That adds up to 48% of the average of the best five years salary. Three years at $150K and two at $250K makes an average of $190,000 a year. And 48% of that is $91,200 a year.
And then he gets that for the rest of his life. Along with a $131,000 a year pension from the city of Miami, where he worked as a firefighter, fire chief and city manager.
2. He can hurt the strong mayor initiative in Miami
The biggest sticking point so far in the move to bring a strong mayor form of government to the city of Miami, which 
Gimenez has publicly opposed, is the salary question. The way the Miami measure is written, the mayor — Francis Suarez and whoever comes after him — would make 75% of the county mayor’s salary and benefits. Repeat, salary and benefits.
Read related: Mayor Carlos Gimenez clan involved in Joe Carollo lawsuit vs. strong mayor
If the mayor gives himself a raise to $250,000 a year, that likely brings his total package up to close to $400,000. That means that Suarez would get a salary of $300,000. This is truly an outrageous amount that voters are not likely to support — which makes it the perfect rallying cry for the anti strong mayor campaign. Watch for mailers that focus on the potential $300K salary Suarez — who currently makes $97,000, part of an compensation package worth $130,000 — would rake in if the referendum passes. That makes for a heavy no argument.
3. It’s $200K more in two years
He’ll be ballin’ with a free, extra $100K a year for no good reason. It adds up to $200K these last two years and, since we figure he can squirrel some of it away, he can continue to afford fancy trips with his wife to Asia and Paris on the public dime.
In fact, Gimenez has been living off the public teet for so long, he feels like this is the next natural step.
Unfortunately for us, there is very little we can do about it. But if Ladra recalls correctly, insane, six-figure salary increases were among the reasons that former Mayor Carlos Alvarez got recalled in the first place. Yes, the Marlins stadium deal was part of it, but the increase in taxes to pay for extravagant salaries was part of it.
Maybe it’s time we start talking about recalling another Carlos. At the very least, it’ll screw up his potential pension average a little.
3 reasons why Carlos Gimenez will jack his salary: Pension, Suarez, mo’ money added by Ladra on
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Piderman is working at BSO Fire in a sweet position.
Ed Piderman is one of the boys that use to work at the City of Miami Fire Rescue Department with Carlos Gimenez, Chip Iglesias, and Frank Rolleson.
Rolleson is a former City of Miami colleague of Gimenez in the Fire Department and City Manager’s Office.
I am also hearing the FEDS have been contacted to look into this matter.
Ladra,
I meant to say that Carlos Gimenez has rigged the Town of Miami Lakes….
Ladra,
Has rigged the Town of Miami Lakes Town Manager selection process. He had both Chip Iglesias and Frank Rolleson contact the Town of Miami Lakes Commissioners and Selection Committee Members to shortlist Ed Piderman who was ranked 17th on the list. This was done to solidify the American Mega Mall deal. Thereafter, Frank Rolleson was hired as an Assistant Director for the Emergency Management Division in the Miami-Dade Fire Dept. Rolleson is a former City of Miami. Please look into this.
Fidel Castro Gimenez is a murderer. He murdered democracy in 2012 when he dissed half a million voters who in no uncertain terms TOLD him to FUND THE PET’S TRUST. But no, we ‘didn’t know what we voted for’ according to him (then how come HIS election results were valid?) and he ‘protected’ us from ourselves. BULLSHIT. The evil grafter LOVES KILLING ANIMALS. There is ZERO reason other than that. His electorate told him what to do and he ignored us. He needs to be recalled and in the short term the commission needs to stage a coup and wrest power away from this grifter’s hands. He is a disgrace, an embarrassment, a liar, a weasel and a murderer. Off with his head!
Gimenez deserves much of the blame for the massive lucrative Union Contract given to his Fire Department friends in Miami. The taxpayers are forced to pay for “the best paid firemen in the world”. The median pay and benefit package is $160,000. Yup. Gimenez was the Fire Chief then City Manager…
We Don’t Want This Phony Races in Our County , They all ready had enough “Botellas” To family and friends That will support for life ? The Corruption In this County is so Out of Control that Only The DOJ Could Investigate where No Ethics been enforce ? Too many conflicts of Interest County !
If I’m not mistaken he also has the executive package that includes the healthcare for life benefit
Just for the record he also has a third pension, a 401(k) independent of the fire department.
At the end of his short stent as City of Miami manager the city commission granted him a one off deal. I’ve talked to rhose that remember it but the record is missing (or cleverly misplaced)