The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutSubmittal-Correspondence-Miami Association of Firefighters" 29 Y.I. 1 V� ��/��° Association ° ° �� ° Firefighters l��w��w0 ��.^�^�~~��m� ~�� [.~��N��^� I_A_F,F_ l[0ca| 587 ^ Organized October, 7938 Robert Suarez, President ^ Jorge Mmgimn,Secretary-Treasurer Nelson DC riFirst Vice President ^ Louis MarsbmU0,Second Vice President Affiliated with: International Association of Firefighters - American Federation of Labor Congress of Industrial Organizations - Florida Professional Firefighters - South Florida Council of Firefighters July Z2,301O Honorable City Commissioners, Much attention has been given to how much expenses have risen compared to revenues since the year 2000. The administration has even hired a firm that gave a very detailed report on the growth of expenses inthat time period. The finnfelt they needed toproduce ten pages outlining the reasons for increased costs. Yet failed to spend even one page on how revenues were reduced in that same period. The simple truth why the revenues have not kept up with expenses in thattime frame is that the commission has consciously and drastically cut its ability to raise revenue during that same time period. The City'sexpertsfai|edtomnentimnthattheded|neinrevenueoisdirectk/re|atedtotheCbvcutt|n0thetax mi|/m0erate by2Opercent, eliminating the fire fee, failure toraise garbage rates, cutting the parking surcharge assessment 596,allowing the CR4'stosiphon off millions ofdollars from the General fund for questionable projects and expenses, and not increasing fees. Byfailing tuoutline this intheir report the City's firm did a great injustice to the commissioners and to the administration. All ofthese actions were taken when revenues from property taxes were rising because ofthe building boom. This cutting of non ad valorum tax revenue increased our reliance on property taxes to balance the budget. Now that the boom has gone bust, and the City cannot balance Its budget with the current tax rate, it is imperative that these prior cuts in taxes and revenues sources be reviewed and adjusted to raise the necessary revenues torun the city. Yes expenses may need tobetrimmed but the draconian proposals for cutting expenses are unreasonable and in the fire fighters case are not only a breach of contract but unconstitutional. Our organization was front and center just a few months ago when we agreed to nearly 15 million dollars involuntary contractual concessions including an overOY6 reduction /n pay, S million dollars in neducedovertlmepay,neducedho|idaypay,andneduct|onintheCity'sretireeham|thtrustcontributiwns. All of this on top of previously agreed to give -backs that are already occurring this year which include pension benefit reductions to fire fighters, increased pension contributions, and increased health insurance contributions. in light of all this, the continued contractual attack and demonizing of our Firefighter Paramedics inthe media ioshameful. LJLIC REICORD FOF, - =... . �]/� � �- i� F- �S��|[[\|(Jk� �J\ �\r�� ` The following is my proposal for our budget crisis: ° The City should reinstate the Fire Assessment with aSingle Family Home owner rate of$2I5 which would raise 54million dollars. This assessment can bescaled back asother revenues increase inthe future. This assessment should be considered important as part of the city's long term plan as it is not subject to the boom and bust of the real estate market, as in the case of property taxes, thus stabilizing the [bv'orevenue sources. For less than $ZOamonth tmthe homeowner, the city can raise osubstantial amount ofrevenue. For commercial and non -homestead property types this cost will be offset by the third straight year offalling property tax. A few comments have beenmade recently regarding the legality ofthe City mfMiami's Fire Assessment. The City ofMiami's Fire Assessment is still active, at an amount presently set at zero. It is not only legal but i1has become amodel for many Florida cities including Miami Dade County. The lawsuit against the City of Miami was brought forth in 2005 several years after the City modified the fee which was first created in the |ate9O's. After these subsequent modifications were made |n2003tmmake the Cit«^oFire Assessment more consistent with Florida law, several individuals challenged the collection of the fee that had been levied prior tothe changes. Much time and money has been invested in perfecting the City of Miami Fire Assessment. The City was able to gradually reduce the assessment to zero in 2008 because ad valorem revenues had grown soquickly. Now that the ad valorem has decreased just as dramatically, the Fire Assessment should be reinstated. ° CRA:"rhe City should recover AdValorem revenues currently being redirecting tothe CRAs. There are at least several options; recapture all budget reserves from the CRA's, freeze their budgets, cancel all CRAcapital projects, andreturnTax|ncnwmnentsbacktotheChv'sGenena|Fund. This could bring tens of millions ofdollars back tothe City. These CNA/swere intended todivert odvalorem revenues from the City's general fund during times of financial stability in order to improve neglected and blighted communities. There are presently over 3Omillion dollars in[RAreserve funds. Atatime when City services and programs are being reduced, this practice should bnsuspended. ° Tax Fee. Ensure that new construction ionot circumventing AdValorem tax roils. Implement aninterim ° increase enforcement ofCertificates mf Use. It isnot uncommon for City inspectors, during routine inspections, to find a business which has been operating for over a year without City -issued Certificate of Use. ° increase enforcement of accurate square footage for calculation of Ad Valorem, Enforce the inclusion of building interior common areas in the Floor Area Ratio (FAR). � The City should fast track the red light traffic cameras and budget for that revenue. ° Increase City Parking Surcharges and ensure better enforcement. Establish a Single Stream Recycling Program ° Sell advertisement space on City Vehicles. OnJuly 13, 2010 the Miami Dade Commission passed aresolution directing the County administration tocreate such aprogram. The City ofMiami should also pursue this potential revenue source. County Resolution 101717 ° various other increases in fees for service and revenue sources should be maximized including enforcing and expanding the parking surcharge to on -street parking and pay and display meter. The City of Miami has seen many budget shortfalls in the past yet has managed tosurvive. The City survived these budgetary woes of the past by using the same formula - the administration and employees working together tocut costs and raise revenue. However, itappears that this administration and the chairman have decided to try to resolve this year's problems in a different way. This iauntested and potentially dangerous gamble that may yet cost the citizens far more than the recommendations above. Failure to keep these revenue options open very likely will lead to further financial detriment. The solution to this year's budgetary issues should be a combination of raising significantrevenueses well ascutting expenses. The failure tmeven consider raising significant revenues is irresponsible considering that the legal battle continues over whether the City has the right to declare a fiscal urgency and toopen upthe Fimefighter'scontract. |nother words, the courts o,anarbitrator may yet rule the City may not legally be able to balance the budget by unilaterally gutting our pay, benefits and pension plan. When that happens, the City will have to deal with not only quickly raising revenue to cover the shortfall but would also be stuck repaying the fire fighters with interest for years to come for illegal action taken against our members. The Miami Association ofFirefighters urgesyoutohe|pleadthis city out of this crisis by raising substantial revenues in order to resolve the current budgetary issues. Robert Suarez, President Miami Association ofFirefiahtam |AFFLocal 687