09-01-2011, 05:22 AM
From
http://investigationmiami.blogspot.com/
The charter of the city of Miami is much stronger than the “code of ordinances” because the charter can be changed only by a vote of the electorate. The code of ordinances is changed at each commission meeting by the “selected officials” we call commissioners.
This is what the charter of the city of Miami says about compensation for commissioners:
Sec 4 - Form of government; nomination and election.
(h) Salaries of the mayor and commission. Effective on November 4, 2003, there shall be paid to the city commissioners the sum of $58,200, which is equal to sixty percent of the mayor's salary in effect on July 16, 2003. Such salary shall be paid per year for each commissioner, in twelve equal installments. The compensation of the mayor shall be determined by the commission.
Commissioners, under the city charter, should be paid a salary of $58,200 per year.
That salary is twice the median household income in Miami. So, for most Miamians the salary paid to commissioners is a substantial salary.
When the Miami New Times published its report on city employees earning more than $100,000 per year, there were 4 commissioners on the list:
· Francis Suarez earned $113,375.12 in 2010, or $55,175.12 more than the salary approved by the voters.
· Willy Gort earned $108,359.52 in 2010, or $50,159.52 more than the salary approved by the voters.
· Richard Dunn earned $106,105.56 in 2010, or $47,905.56 more than the salary approved by the voters.
· Frank Carollo earned $104,659.84 in 2010, or $46,459.84 more than the salary approved by the voters.
What the heck is that about?
The voters approve a salary of $58,200 for commissioners and then it is ignored and they get paid over $100,000 a year?
That’s just about what happens.
We checked around and found that not only do commissioners get the salary approved by the voters, but they also get paid expense allowances as determined by the city manager.
So basically, the city manager curries favor with commissioners by giving them, AT HIS DISCRETION, a HUGE expense allowance.
Included in the expense allowance is $800 per month car allowance even though the commissioners get ferried around town 24/7 by $130,000 a year police officers who should be patrolling our neighborhoods.
Also included in the expense allowance is a phone allowance to defray the cost of the commissioners’ cell phone service so they can get text messages and send text messages during commission meetings in violation of Florida law.
Not included in the expense allowance is the costs for, like, say, two full-time publicists for Marc Sarnoff to him get elected which we the taxpayers fund; or political toadies like Pieter Bockweg and Luis Cabrera for whom the taxpayers also foot the bill for outrageous salaries and benefits so their political godfathers can skirt laws to benefit themselves.
So before the commissioners and the mayor start railing about out of control salaries in the city, maybe they want to take a look at all the money they are stuffing in their pockets for what each one of them has treated as a PART TIME JOB!
It’s about time that one of two things happen. Either the commissioners keep their bloated salaries and expenses allowances and give up all outside employment so we don’t feel short-changed by paying well over $100,000 a year for part-time commissioners or give up their expense allowances and come clean about their outside employment.
After that happens, then wail away at all the other wasteful salaries and benefits and give the taxpayer a break.
And then if they ever decide to change the “expense allowance” of commissioners they can do it in the sunshine instead of through some back-door secret memo signed by the city manager.
From where we sit, the “selected officials” in Miami just look like a bunch of hypocrites.
But its ok Javi and Armando keep attacking the chief
http://investigationmiami.blogspot.com/
The charter of the city of Miami is much stronger than the “code of ordinances” because the charter can be changed only by a vote of the electorate. The code of ordinances is changed at each commission meeting by the “selected officials” we call commissioners.
This is what the charter of the city of Miami says about compensation for commissioners:
Sec 4 - Form of government; nomination and election.
(h) Salaries of the mayor and commission. Effective on November 4, 2003, there shall be paid to the city commissioners the sum of $58,200, which is equal to sixty percent of the mayor's salary in effect on July 16, 2003. Such salary shall be paid per year for each commissioner, in twelve equal installments. The compensation of the mayor shall be determined by the commission.
Commissioners, under the city charter, should be paid a salary of $58,200 per year.
That salary is twice the median household income in Miami. So, for most Miamians the salary paid to commissioners is a substantial salary.
When the Miami New Times published its report on city employees earning more than $100,000 per year, there were 4 commissioners on the list:
· Francis Suarez earned $113,375.12 in 2010, or $55,175.12 more than the salary approved by the voters.
· Willy Gort earned $108,359.52 in 2010, or $50,159.52 more than the salary approved by the voters.
· Richard Dunn earned $106,105.56 in 2010, or $47,905.56 more than the salary approved by the voters.
· Frank Carollo earned $104,659.84 in 2010, or $46,459.84 more than the salary approved by the voters.
What the heck is that about?
The voters approve a salary of $58,200 for commissioners and then it is ignored and they get paid over $100,000 a year?
That’s just about what happens.
We checked around and found that not only do commissioners get the salary approved by the voters, but they also get paid expense allowances as determined by the city manager.
So basically, the city manager curries favor with commissioners by giving them, AT HIS DISCRETION, a HUGE expense allowance.
Included in the expense allowance is $800 per month car allowance even though the commissioners get ferried around town 24/7 by $130,000 a year police officers who should be patrolling our neighborhoods.
Also included in the expense allowance is a phone allowance to defray the cost of the commissioners’ cell phone service so they can get text messages and send text messages during commission meetings in violation of Florida law.
Not included in the expense allowance is the costs for, like, say, two full-time publicists for Marc Sarnoff to him get elected which we the taxpayers fund; or political toadies like Pieter Bockweg and Luis Cabrera for whom the taxpayers also foot the bill for outrageous salaries and benefits so their political godfathers can skirt laws to benefit themselves.
So before the commissioners and the mayor start railing about out of control salaries in the city, maybe they want to take a look at all the money they are stuffing in their pockets for what each one of them has treated as a PART TIME JOB!
It’s about time that one of two things happen. Either the commissioners keep their bloated salaries and expenses allowances and give up all outside employment so we don’t feel short-changed by paying well over $100,000 a year for part-time commissioners or give up their expense allowances and come clean about their outside employment.
After that happens, then wail away at all the other wasteful salaries and benefits and give the taxpayer a break.
And then if they ever decide to change the “expense allowance” of commissioners they can do it in the sunshine instead of through some back-door secret memo signed by the city manager.
From where we sit, the “selected officials” in Miami just look like a bunch of hypocrites.
But its ok Javi and Armando keep attacking the chief