Carlos Gimenez: A progress report

...
Last June, Miami-Dade residents chose Carlos Gimenez as their mayor.

Gimenez campaigned on a promise to clean up county government. He replaced recalled mayor Carlos Alvarez, who himself had won two terms by pledging to clean up county government.

During the campaign, Gimenez told the Miami Herald, "County government is far too bloated. It currently has 60 departments, agencies and offices and could function efficiently with 25 departments, the same as the State. We will reorganize and consolidate county departments, eliminate unnecessary positions, and reduce top-level salaries and executive benefits."

And while Gimenez pledged to "reduce top-level salaries and executive benefits", one of his first orders of business upon taking office was trying to find ways to plug a $409 million budget gap by seeking concessions from rank and file and lower paid employees.

But, is Gimenez making any headway in reducing those "top-level salaries and benefits"?

He makes no mention of any such progress in a recent Miami Herald op-ed piece.

For the second year in a row I've obtained a list (embedded below) from Miami-Dade County titled "MIAMI‐DADE COUNTY GROSS EARNINGS EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN $100K (SORTED BY DEPARTMENT) FY 2010‐11".

Last year's list was 79 pages and contained over 3,300 names. This year's list is 88 pages long and contains 3,125 names.

NOTE: Those listed below joined the County between July and September 2011.

Carlos A. Gimenez, Mayor
Salary: $150,000

Executive Benefits
· $10,000 Executive Benefits Allowance annually for deferred compensation contribution

Russell Benford, Deputy Mayor
Salary: $230,000

Executive Benefits
· $10,000 Executive Benefits Allowance annually
· Biweekly car allowance $187.50 ($4,875 annually)
· Participation in a 401(a) Supplemental Retirement Account ($1,500 per year)
· Annual physical exam with County provider (optional)

Genaro “Chip” Iglesias, Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff
Salary: $225,000

Executive Benefits
· $10,000 Executive Benefits Allowance annually
· Biweekly car allowance $187.50 ($4,875 annually)
· Participation in a 401(a) Supplemental Retirement Account ($1,500 per year)
· Annual physical exam with County provider (optional)
·
Ed Marquez, Deputy Mayor
Salary: $267,000

Executive Benefits
· $10,000 Executive Benefits Allowance annually
· Biweekly car allowance $187.50 ($4,875 annually)
· Participation in a 401(a) Supplemental Retirement Account ($1,500 per year)
· Annual physical exam with County provider (optional)

Jack Osterholt, Deputy Mayor
Salary: $250,000

Executive Benefits
· $10,000 Executive Benefits Allowance annually
· Biweekly car allowance $187.50 ($4,875 annually)
· Participation in a 401(a) Supplemental Retirement Account ($1,500 per year)
· Annual physical exam with County provider (optional)

Inson Kim, Director of Policy and Legislation
Salary: $105,000

Lisa M. Martinez, Senior Advisor
Salary: $130,000

Some highlights:

The list shows that many executives received executive benefits and car allowances for FY 2010-11.

A quick scan shows that there are more than 60 employees classified as "county attorneys" or "assistant county attorneys" earning more than $100,000 annually. Many of those earn more than $200,000 a year.

A few more highlights:

At the top of the list is Alejandro Munoz, the newly appointed director of Animal Services. Munoz's salary is listed at $174,517 a year. His total adjusted pay is $183,463. Munoz also receives another $9,480 a year in "executive benefits and a car allowance of $4,518. His total insurance contribution is $10,834.

(By way of comparison, Nick Wiley, the executive director for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - a statewide law enforcement agency - earns an annual salary of $129,430 according to the Department of Management Services.

In Los Angeles - a city of more than 9 million - the salary for the general manager of Animal Services is $170,000 annually.)

Kelvin Taylor, a corporal with 23 years of service in the Corrections department is listed at a current annual base salary of $68,882. His "annual adjusted salary" is $86,135. However, the list shows that Taylor also earned overtime of $48,434 that brought his "total adjusted pay" to $129,683.

Request FY 2010-2011 (Final )