Miami’s municipal employee unions — big backers of Eileen Higgins in last fall’s mayoral election and proponents of next week’s $450 million public safety bond referendum — enjoy an unusual perk: Eight employees are excused from their city jobs to represent their unions full time, while collectively drawing more than $1 million a year in taxpayer-funded salaries.
Tag: Public Safety Bond
Opinion: Voters Should Reject Miami’s Public Safety Bond
Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo says there’s a smarter way to repair, rebuild and replace Miami’s fire stations and police headquarters.
Miami’s Mayor Makes the Case for More Spending
“Public safety is the top priority,” Mayor Eileen Higgins said last week in defense of her proposed $450-million bond proposal. “Without that, everything else falls apart.”
City Staff Withheld Budget Report Ahead of Key Vote
In the days leading up to last month’s approval of Miami’s $3.7 billion budget, a city oversight committee charged with reviewing municipal finances tried to alert commissioners to a host of potential concerns. But its report was not shared with commissioners until after the vote.
Miami’s Billion-Dollar Boom, Part 1: Where Did All the Money Go?
As commissioners prepare to consider another record budget — and voters face a $450 million public-safety bond in November — an analysis of city financial records finds Miami’s property-tax collections have soared over the past decade, rising sharply even after accounting for inflation and population growth.
Commission Sends $450 Million Public Safety Bond to November Ballot
A divided City Commission voted 3-2 to let Miami voters decide whether to authorize borrowing for new police and fire facilities after amendments helped secure the support of a key swing vote.
A Commission Recap: Traffic, Trees and Voter Turnout
The City Commission agreed to address traffic problems on eight Grove streets, established an advisory committee on trees, scheduled a voter referendum on the city’s election calendar, and deferred a decision on $450 million in new bond funding.
Sponsors + Advertisement
Recent News
Born Again: Grove Firm Finds New Life for Older Homes
As new money washes over Miami, Coconut Grove is
She Watched Her Neighborhood Change. Now She’s Fighting for Its Future
As development reshapes the historically Black West
City Lawyers Initially Rejected The WELL Density Transfer, Emails Show
Newly obtained records reveal months of legal
Miami Tree Panel Zeroes In on Canopy Protection Reforms
After months of discussion, committee members are
Inside City Hall: Miami’s Union Contracts Have Expired. Four Things to Watch.
Miami's last labor agreements delivered substantial
Too Little, Too Late? City Notifies Neighbors After Deciding Trees Can Go
By the time Miami notifies residents of proposed tree