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Nov 2, 2009 11:04 am US/Eastern
Miami-Dade County Pay & Benefit Cuts Take Effect
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez
CBS
Thousands of Miami-Dade County employees will be receiving smaller paychecks starting Monday, after Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez announced a 5-percent pay cut for 2,700 non-union and management employees. In addition, non-union employees will see their bonuses, flex pay, and other perks frozen.
"There is nothing enjoyable about what we're going through and what I am announcing today," Alvarez said on Friday. "Those impacted include the department directors, their management teams and all senior staff from the county executive offices."
According to Alvarez, the five percent pay cut and freezing of perks will save Miami-Dade County around $34 million. However, that still leaves the county with an operating budget deficit, which is prohibited by law.
"I'm glad to have a job. Unemployment is high. We're trying to hold on as best we can," Miami-Dade County employee Keith Butler said.
"Nobody wants to see their money cut, but what has to be done, has to be done," county employee Nelson Martinez said. He prefers pay cuts to the possibility of losing his job.
Last month, the county reached a tentative agreement with three unions that would give up about $25 million dollars in pay and benefits. That still represents only a quarter of the $200 million that employees have been asked to give back.
Agreements with the two largest unions, police and firefighters, have not been reached. According to Alvarez, those negotiations are currently at an impasse.
Police Benevolent Association President John Rivera told CBS4 reporter Gary Nelson Friday morning that "we are willing to sit down and talk with them," but Rivera said police officers and the county remain "at impasse."
Police union President John Rivera said he won't accept pay cuts and the county won't listen to alternatives. "They have never given us the opportunity to help them save money. They won't listen to us," Rivera said.
Firefighters' President Stan Hills told Nelson, "The ball is in the county's court." Hills said the firefighters' union and county administration "last talked on October 8th, and they haven't asked us to talk anymore."
Alvarez said the onus of balancing the budget now falls back on the Miami-Dade County Commission. It will be up to commissioners to impose wage and benefit cuts on the holdout unions for the budget to be brought into balance.
Absent that, Alvarez said massive layoffs and service cuts for citizens may have to be implemented.
CBS4'S Gary Nelson contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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