Are they going to cut City salaries? We'll see
Lots of rhetoric at yesterday's City Commission meeting. Next year's budget was discussed. Right now the city is up to $118 million in the hole thanks the absurd salaries and pensions.
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff asked that the city workers whose pay is "bloated" and "excessive" give up some of their salary -- a small percentage. This list hit a nerve with many people.
Neisen Kasdin, of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) stood before the Commission saying that they would reduce salaries if millage rates were approved for the upcoming fiscal year. This passed unanimously, even though the salary reductions should have come first.
It's all a big game. Business as usual. The commissioner asks for a reduction, the DDA agrees and lets see if anything happens.
Kasdin thought it was funny to say that they are cutting down on cookies at their downtown office. That's how they are saving money. No one found this to be funny. Getting rid of these bloated salaries is needed, not cutting down on the Oreos served with coffee in their offices. (Are taxpayers actually paying for the DDA's cookies, too? Someone is reimbursed for this?)
We shall see if salaries (and cookie eating) go down to any degree. Anyone want to take any bets that they don't?
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff asked that the city workers whose pay is "bloated" and "excessive" give up some of their salary -- a small percentage. This list hit a nerve with many people.
Neisen Kasdin, of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) stood before the Commission saying that they would reduce salaries if millage rates were approved for the upcoming fiscal year. This passed unanimously, even though the salary reductions should have come first.
It's all a big game. Business as usual. The commissioner asks for a reduction, the DDA agrees and lets see if anything happens.
Kasdin thought it was funny to say that they are cutting down on cookies at their downtown office. That's how they are saving money. No one found this to be funny. Getting rid of these bloated salaries is needed, not cutting down on the Oreos served with coffee in their offices. (Are taxpayers actually paying for the DDA's cookies, too? Someone is reimbursed for this?)
We shall see if salaries (and cookie eating) go down to any degree. Anyone want to take any bets that they don't?
posted by Tom Falco at 9:30 AM
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10 Comments:
Grape..the $118 million hole is for 2009/2010. Does anyone know what the hole is for 2008/2009. Where is that money coming from? Commissioner Sarnoff said there is only $505 million to pay for a $525 million 2008/2009 budget.
Has anyone in the city looked at the 2010/2011 budget?
There is no 2010 budget yet. Mayor Diaz has not released it.
Who is responcible for the City of Miami financial fiasco? Under whose watch did all of this happen? Who are the mayor, commissioners, and city manager that negotiated these bad deals and approved them? You can’t fault the unions for trying to get the best deal they could get! Just like you can’t fault developers for trying to build as much as possible and make as much profit as they can. The fault is totally with our elected leaders and the manager that accepted these lopsided union contracts. The fault is with our city that authorized employee salaries in excess of $100K, $200K & $300K. They all end up departing with great pensions plans and we taxpayers get stuck paying the bills for the rest of our lives. Why are property owners and business operators being punished just because we happen to own property in Miami? Drastic cuts need to be made ASAP. Start by cutting all salaried elected leaders and employees that earn more then $100K by 35 -50%. Cancel all pensions of elected leaders. Renegotiate union contracts. If not then we shall have to declare bankruptcy and then negotiate union contracts under the currant market conditions. Do not reward elected leaders or managers that got us into this financial mess. Reprimand them or better yet fire them, get them to return the salaries and perks they recived and cancel their life time pension as a result of their mismanagement, malfeasance and ineptness! Lets hope that the November election results will bring a much needed improvement.
Harry Emilio Gottlieb
harry weren't you suggesting the grove succeed from the city of miami? do you think that woulda lowered taxes? more gov't?
Hilarious. I'd hazard an educated guess that 80% of Grovites voted for bigger government and massive tax increases, late last year. Why the complaining?
I'M with Anon 9:33pm:
Yeah! Let's Succeed from the City.
--MARGOT CHANNING
Harry, it is so easy to lay blame and point the finger, ins't it? FYI, the pension matter started way before Mayor Diaz came into office. In fact, it dates back to 1979 when employees sued the city of miami (gates vs. city of miami). The case was settled in 1985 and as a result they created two separately governed plans, the City of Miami Fire Fighters' and Police Officers' Retirement Trust (FIPO) and the City of Miami General Employees' and Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust (GESE). This is why the city doesn't manage the pensions. It is managed by a board of people elected and/or appointed by the fire, police, each commissioner and the city manager. And this is why it is so important that the current administration and our future mayor continue negotiating with them on a pension stabilization program.
Many City of Miami employees and many Miami-Dade County employees are overpaid. Firemen making $360,000 per year?
The Downtown Development Authority wastes millions. Anyone been downtown lately? Exactly. The DDA pays $280,000 per year in rent alone. Almost $2 mil on salaries.
The DDA pays for free parking for all its overpaid employees. Getting rid of free cookies? How about getting rid of the DDA?
How on this earth could over 50 fire and police personnel make over 200K? And how can the City Manager make less than subordinates? Something is wrong and its not the guy at the counter for permits.
Why is the DDA not a BID like everywhere else in the city? Can Coconut Grove have a DDA and we decide how to use our money?
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