About six hours after the first public hearing began Thursday, Miami-Dade Commissioners gave preliminary approval to the mayor’s $10 billion budget, which focuses on affordable housing, infrastructure and clean water while cutting the tax rate by 1%.
“This year we will continue rebuilding our community and economy stronger than ever by prioritizing critical investments in making Miami-Dade more affordable and livable, upgrading our infrastructure for future prosperity and resilience, helping small businesses thrive, and connecting residents to opportunity,” Mayor Daniella Levine Cava writes in her budget message.
Because property values continue to increase, her 1% cut on the tax rate amounts to about $14 a year for the average homeowner — it’s really 10% above the state defined rollback rate that would equal a zero tax increase — and some commissioners believe the county can give back more.
Commissioners Raquel Regalado and Joe Martinez — who went to the meeting pending a suspension by the governor after his public corruption charges last week — each suggested a 2% tax rate cut and a 3% tax rate cut, respectively. The larger break would cut $5.5 million from the budget.
“In a $10 billion budget, that’s a drop in the bucket,” said Martinez, who just couldn’t resist a chance to vote against the budget one last time.
Read related: Ron DeSantis to suspend Miami-Dade’s Joe Martinez–when he finds a stand-in
But they did not get any traction after Budget Director David Clodfelter explained that the five year plan starting in 2024 shows a deficit. He didn’t say how much that deficit was and Regalado questioned if those calculations included savings in police costs once the sheriff’s office is created.
“If we’re going to be in a deficit in a year, why recommend a 1% then,” Martinez asked, and these are the kind of questions we are going to miss when he is suspended.
Martinez, Regalado and Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz all voted against the budget, which passed 9-3. Commissioner Rene Garcia was absent.
That means that every other commissioner who voted in favor of the budget voted for the ridiculous “County Ambassadors” program that would pay former commissioners — those who aren’t removed from office or recalled — up to $25,000 a year to cut ribbons and crap like that, as well as advise the commission chairman. Say what?
Watch the first Miami-Dade Commission budget hearing
Commissioner Oliver Gilbert was the one to defend it on the dais, but it sounds more like something concocted by the termed-out commissioners who are facing an end to their celebrity status this November.
Is Diaz not sure he can be elected mayor of Sweetwater next year? Or maybe former Commissioners Barbara Jordan and Dennis Moss are broke and/or bored. After all, Jennifer Moon, the commission’s budget and policy director, told the Miami Herald that the idea came about through discussions between current and former commissioners. Hope Sunshine Laws weren’t violated.
Either way, it’s a terrible idea. Is there no limit for how many ambassadors? What are the liabilities? Are commissioners allowed to vote to give themselves a possible future job?
Commissioner Eileen Higgins expressed concern about having formers suddenly appear at an event she is at. Can you imagine her and former Commissioner Bruno Barreiro sharing a stage?
Termed-out means termed-out. It doesn’t mean that taxpayers want electeds coming back on the public trough in another role. No. These people already get health insurance for life. That’s something that ought to be revisited, by the way.
Also, it’s kind of shady to sneak this into the general budget, rather than have it go through committee and get the full scrutiny it deserves.
The budget comes back for a second public hearing Sept. 20 and, from the discussion on Thursday, there might be some changes to accommodate the commissioners’ concerns. Let’s hope that cutting the county ambassador’s program is one of those changes.
Miami-Dade passes $10B budget w/ tiny tax ‘cut’ and shady ‘ambassadors’ fund added by Ladra on
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Miami Herald reports M-D Commissioners ALSO voted to increase their incomes from $60,000 per year to over $120,000 per year… The details were in fine print previously hidden from the public.
” Congratulations! There has not been one politician that you have supported that is worth a damn.”
Has there been one in Miami in last couple of decades ?
Local politics in Miami is often a choice between getting bit by a 6 foot Tiger shark or a 6 foot Great White shark.
I did not include the common Florida Bull shark because at 6 feet I think it is a worse attack then the above from what I gathered watching Shark week .
Cava simply won because she isn’t Bovo a career Cosa Nostra politico .
Don’t blame harried Miamians, this Commission is another window on income inequality . The bad part is that those ordered to supply the subsidies to the most needy, may not find fulfillment in putting their clients on track. The idealism and commitment of the social workers of the Great Society programs, may be hard to find, or their motivation impeded .
Why would Cava veto this Ambassadors Program when it will benefit her too? Lets be real here. Una mano lava la otra!
Ladra,
Did you not endorsed this worthless and piece of garbage Mayor? Not only is she funding this embezzling ambassador program, she is funding hundreds of meaningless social programs.
Congratulations! There has not been one politician that you have supported that is worth a damn. Please don’t give out anymore recommendation and stick to just writing your blog stories. This is when you are at your best.
Did I hear Banana Republic or is this Cava’s lava.
Public Service or Self Service? That is the question. The fact that any clown that voted for this “ambassadors program” a better name would be RAT (Real As Theft). I’m sure that those who voted for it will be re elected anyway. Elected officials are a reflection of their citizens.
What a bunch of grifters. Let the tax payers vote on $25,000 a year pension, plus health insurance, +++ and see where their re-election chances go. So glad there are term limits now.
I would happily take a job as a County Ambassador and would be willing to negotiate the salary..
Thank you
Term Limits? Voters wanted term limits! Voters did NOT want these grifters being paid FOREVER.
What an outrage! What do we need to pay $25,000 to people for ribbon cutting? We need to spend money to provide housing and create better jobs. What kind of boondoggle is this?
I will do it for $20,000 per year.
The Criminals are NOT in Jail They Yet , The BCC Criminals are Ruining or County Government Creating For Them Self’s and Their Friends ! “WE NEED A SHERIFF” NOT another Daniela Mamas BOY .
Seems like with ex-city of Miami commisioner and perennial ethically challenged Michelle Spence Jones recent record setting pension thanks to some cleaver gaming of pension system the BCC would be more sensitive of hustling the taxpayer for sketchy pension plans.
Don’t these guys ever have real jobs? Moss and Jordan are perfect examples. . Decades in office living with no visible means of support except for no-show jobs for foundations or charities which in-turn receive operating funds from the BBC.
Now with term limits their county gravy train is limited to eight years, so they want another no show county program to continue the scam
The real laugh is currently as full time commissioners their salary is $6000 a year but as out of work commissioners with a no show job description they quadruple their county salary to $25,000. FOR LIFE??? (by the way that’ll be included in calculating their FRS pension right?)
As county employees for life what other county resources will they have access to?
And why is it these grifter schemes always seem to come from the politicians which are elected by the poorest communities ? Seems a little hypocritical to be taking money out of the general fund and paying themselves.
Yes, the mayor should veto this joke, see if the BCC can generate an override and see what politician wants to face a re-election with this porker on their voting record
Oliver Gilbert and Keon Hardemon and bunch of the others are crooks. Always grifting. Stealing… Another $25,000 per year in permanent benefits? Vote the grifters out.
County ambassadors for life?? What a laugh. How about go get a real job for life, like selling your ass on the street as a proper lobbyist like Joe he was doing (you shouldn’t of come back Joe, taking money to lobby a bill is legal, taking money to file a bill is a no no and you know it)
$25,000 per year! These elected officials and Mayor Daniella Cava just created another pension scheme for themselves! This is more stealing from the taxpayers. Is the Miami Herald Editorial Board paying attention? We hope Cava vetoes this crap.