Miami-Dade commissioners vote 7-5 to double their salary after marathon meeting
MIAMI - Into the early morning hours, the Miami-Dade County Commission debates hiking their benefits package.
"I do think that we should put it on the ballot and ask folks about our salaries and if they say no, they say no," said Commissioner Raquel Regalado.
Voters have repeatedly said no to a salary increase. However, overnight the commission voted 7 to 5 to more than double their benefits compensation. T
heir salary remains at $6,000 but commissioners' total benefits package goes from $61,100 to $138,500 on October first. That included increases in things like car and expense allowances and contributions to their retirement account.
"Look at all the employees that are sitting here, every year they have an increase, the commissioners do not have that," said Chairman Jose "Pepe" Diaz. He voted in favor of the raise.
He points out - he will not benefit because he'll be out of office in November.
For some 20 years commissioners have not been given a raise, not even cost of living increases.
"Maybe it was our fault for not doing an index, an inflation index and maybe taking it up every year raising 3-5% like every corporation, companies like yours," Diaz said.
Commissioner Eileen Higgins was one of the 5 who voted against the boost.
"I would have much preferred a more open conversation about this, have it at a regular commission meeting where it can really be discussed. It felt like it was snuck in," Higgins said.
She points out there is a benefit to paying commissioners a living wage and making it a full-time job, instead of part-time like it is now.
"Every moment you have a commissioner doing other work to make ends meet for their family is an hour, 2 hours, 5 hours, a whole day when they are not focused on solving the issues of Miami-Dade County," she said.
Higgins said low pay and long hours limit the pool of people who can afford to serve as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner.
"Every other county except this county pays their commissioners a decent salary they can live on. They're not going to be rich but they can live on it. That will expand the pool of people who can run," Higgins said.
Suspended Commissioner Jose Martinez, who was removed by the governor on Tuesday, will not benefit from this.
He was suspended without pay.
