Miami-Dade County Employees' Salaries Criticized
MAIMI (CBS4) - While one in ten residents of Miami-Dade is out of work, more than one in ten of the county's employees are taking home six figure salaries, according to the Miami Herald.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez's website says the county employs over 28,000 people. Papers obtained by Random Pixels shows 3,301 of those employees coming home with at least $100,000 for the fiscal 2009-2010 year.
More than 800 of them are from the Miami-Dade Police Department and about 600 from the fire department.
This comes at a time of high unemployment, economic depression and penny pinching for many south Florida residents. Nonetheless, the county just approved taking more money out of tax payers' pockets with increasing property taxes starting this month.
However, that won't deter the city from handing out scheduled raises to some of its employees in June. Yes, that means some of the same employees already making six figures could be receiving an even bigger paycheck. Not to mention the perks that come with their jobs including an $800 per month car allowance for commissioners and the mayor.
But Mayor Alvarez defended the county saying Miami-Dade County salaries are competitive, but not disproportionate.
"Excluding public safety positions, less than six percent of the County workforce meets the $100,000 earnings threshold. Many of those making more than $100,000 worked hours beyond a full time schedule and were paid overtime. In protective services alone, overtime has been reduced by $50 million in just the past year," Alvarez said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon.
Most of the county attorneys make more than $200,000 with its highest paid attorney being Robert Cuevas Jr. After three years on the job, his annual salary is $350,000.
That number is relatively low compared to the county manager, George Burgess, who's salary is set at $422,000, which includes $93,000 in executive benefits.
The mayor, who's dangerously close to being recalled, receives a $315,000 annual salary.
Police officer Zenon Ayala took home more $145,000 thanks to $60,000 in overtime. His story is not uncommon on the list of highly paid officers.
Officer Phillip Clark made almost $100,000 in overtime alone making $172,000 his grand total salary.
Police Captain Michael Cundle received $143,000 with absolutely no over time.
A mechanic at Miami International Airport made almost $122,000.
Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz did not vote for the tax rate hike. He told CBS4 Political Reporter Michael Williams, "People are fed up. People are tired. They don't want to see higher salaries because they don't have a job."
Taxpayers who spoke with Williams want answers and accountability, though they are willing to give the benefit of the doubt and do not automatically criticize county employees making more than $100,000 per year. One of those taxpayers, Amy Castano, told me, "It would depend on the job. Firefighters, police officers work very hard to keep us safer. I would think they deserve overtime."
Alvarez said he is committed to scaling back the workforce and added that when adjusted for inflation, the cost of government for a resident of Miami-Dade is lower than it has been in 20 years.
CBS4 Political Reporter Michael Williams contributed to this report.
