Miami-Dade may spend $53 million this year on ‘furniture’ for offices, facilities

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Even as they talk about the tough times to come and budget shortfalls expected in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic, Miami-Dade Commissioners could spend an additional $19 million on furniture this year — because $21 million is evidently not enough.

That’s right, the total amount in the annual budget for furniture could be increased to $41 million. Hopefully, someone will explain how these needs have doubled since the budget was approved in September, especially when people are working remotely.

And that doesn’t ‘t even count the $12 million in furniture for the aviation, PortMiami, solid waste, police and fire rescue departments that was already approved in January.

That brings the total to $53 million for the 2020-2021 budget.

La gente le han perdido el respeto al dinero.

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If all this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. This is an annual item.

Every year, the commission gives authority to spend millions of dollars for “furniture” — both for new or expanded facilities and to replace any items “that have reached the end of its useful life.”

But we’re not talking about just desks and chairs and couches and conference tables. It includes parts, upholstery and associated services to “improve spaces utilized by residents, tourists and staff,” according to the item before the commission at Wednesday’s meeting.

“It is the seats for gates at the airport and terminals at the seaport, bookshelves for the library and a shelving system for the police department records bureau,” said budget queen Jennifer Moon, director of the commission’s new budget and policy office, who wishes very much that they would change the name of the contract.

Examples in the agenda item include:

• Approximately 180 L-shaped desks and 180 chairs for the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department to relocate staff and operations from the Women’s Detention Center and two warehouses that serve it, “if a new lease is secured to house all facilities and staff in one new location.”
• Furniture for the South Dade Cultural Center due to the café development
• New furniture for the newly constructed Westchester Cultural Arts Center
• Cabinets, collapsable high counters, work spaces, outdoor seating, desks, tables and chairs for the Miami-Dade County Auditorium, the African Heritage Cultural Center and the South Dade Cultural Arts Center.
• Furniture replacement at County Hall, floors 6, 8, 9 and 20, as well as the Northwest Justice Center and data processing center.
• New furniture such as sofas, chairs, tables, lobby chairs and guest chairs to replace old and damaged furniture in the family waiting room, lobby and records area of the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s office.
• New furniture for the main library as well as the Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Hialeah Gardens, North Central, Sunny Isles Beach and Tamiami branches. “The pool has provided the ability to create and improve public spaces that are inviting, innovative and improve the overall customer experience while further advancing the mission to provide extraordinary services, spaces and experiences that promote literacy and learning.”
• Replacement of obsolete and damaged furniture — desks, chairs, filing and storage cabinets, patio seating, steel shelving and more — for the parks department for use at community centers, public swimming pools and administration offices.
• Dining tables, dining chairs, wall units, file cabinets, orator lecterns, office chairs, desks, bookcases and work stations for the Public Housing and Community Development departments.
• Replacement of obsolete chairs and work stations at the permitting and inspection center and the code compliance department.
• Mid-back chairs, mesh-back chairs, 3-file drawers, storage cabinets, instanct canopies, bookcases and other office furniture for two new compressed natural gas fuel island stations for the bus maintenance division.
• Chairs, filing and storage cabinets and bookcases for the Public Works Department.
• New work stations, chairs, desks and tables for the New Business and Labor section of the Water and Sewer Department at the LeJeune office.

We don’t have $1 million to call a special election in District 8, but we have $53 million for canopies, bookcases and filing cabinets? With some people working remotely, which will continue after the pandemic, isn’t there stuff leftover? Shouldn’t we moving more of the permitting and inspection services online?

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Also, why are we buying 180 desks and chairs for a women’s detention facility that is not yet leased? What are we doing with the desks and chairs at the current facilities?

And the $5 million Hialeah Gardens library is brand spanking new. It opened a week or so ago. Ladra posted a slide show of the beautiful furniture, seating and bookcases.

What possible furnishings could it need already?

At least $1.5 million (from the first $19 million allocated) is to come from the general fund’s operating budget, according to a county table, and the rest are capital projects allocations.

Ladra was told that the Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has asked departments to reassess their needs. Yeah, they should do that. Commissioner Joe Martinez is not going to let this go without asking.

Doesn’t anyone at the county buy at thrift stores? The Salvation Army store on Bird Road has great stuff and you can benefit the needy at the same time. Or maybe put out a call for donations from the community?

The county needs to get creative. Because we could face serious budget shortfalls as a result of the COVID19 pandemic for the next couple of years, and $53 million is a lot of money that could be applied elsewhere.

This item should be deferred indefinitely and a moratorium should be put on “furniture” purchases.

  Miami-Dade budget, spending