Miami Is Broke, but 737 City Employees Made Six Figures Last Year; Here's a Full List

Bringbackcommonsense

Ignorance is incredible.Alot of you are posting,on pure ignorance of not knowing whats going on.Where do i start? POLITICIANS tell you its the fire dept.,and police pensions breaking the city. Have any of you actually done the homework to see how accurate that is?And if it is,shouldnt they have seen that coming YEARS go? And why dont they state that these salaries are GROSS slaries and are buffered with ALOT of overtime,because people actually work the extra hours because the city wont hire.Do ANY of you know the difference between "financial urgency", and financial emergency"? Well the city filed "financial urgency",and thats because it "supposedly" allows them to break contracts.They didnt file "financial emergency", because that requires the state to step in and investigate the everyday spending and transactions by the city.Now does that sound alil suspicious to you?Probably.Why is it that the mayor and the commissioners salaries and benefits not included? Arent they city employees? What percentage of salary cuts do they or have they taken?hhmm. The same way they are posting salaries,why dont they list the call volume and compare it nationally.Yeah,check it yourself.Fire dept makes too much money huh? Well for all of you that say that, tell that to the family of a 2 month old that stops breathing and fire rescue is there in 3mins working dilligently to resusitate the kid.What is that worth to u? Now ask that family the same question.What about the patient that tells you they have been feeling bad for a few days and just want to go to the hospital,then get in the truck after talking directly to you and tell you,"oh,I have T.B..How much is that worth that that firefighter has kids at home that he could potentially take any communicable disease home to, because a patient is embarassed or doesnt feel the need to disclose certain illnesses...or simply doesnt know they have?How about the firefighter,who recently was pierced by a H.I.V. needle,while trying to help someone not feeling well? Tell him he makes too much money.Do you have any idea how often that can potentially happen?How much is that worth to you?probably nothin because life goes on,right? Miami doesnt have alot of fires right? Have you ever been in a building or home that you have no idea of its inside detail,in sometimes 800 degree heat,with smoke so dense you literally cant see your hands right in front of your face, but yet have to manuver around in to make sure everyone is out safely? Hell how many of you think YOU can actually do that?How many of those do you think it takes for someone to not go home to their family?Do you put a price on their worth because they may make more than you?Is that a viable reason? Can you actually handle the work of a fire,or patching up bullet wounds,our cleaning up brain matter and working with blood on a daily basis?Training is basic.Every fire presents an unforeseen danger that you cant prepare for.What is that worth to you when you turn on the news and see guys trapped hundreds of feet in the air on skyscrappers,and you see fire rescue scaling the buildings as if spiderman himself trained them,grabbing these people and bringing them down,so they can go home to their families.Or the ones that dive into the contaminated Miami River to pull an elderly man or woman out of a car that submerged and trapped them.What is that worth to you? Ask the guys who are trapped and see what they think after having their lives flash before them.How about asking the wives/girlfrinends/boyfriends/husbands and kids of fire personel,how does it feel when everytime he or she goes to work,that feeling creeps in,no matter how small,that theres a possibility he or she will never come home. Now ill revisit the what is it worth question when these actual and recent situations happen to you and your family.Then i want to see what these brave risk takers and lifesavers are worth to YOU. Oh and after they list the call volume compared to the personnel ,on a national basis,how about they post the statistic that the average firefighter dies FIVE years after they retire.Look that up too.Oh and the fact that that benefit package goes right back to the city when that greedy overpaid,work Christmas,New Years,birthdays,do nothing,work 3 days a week city breaking bastard is dead in 5years.Short and sweet.Educate yourselves.Remember,they are "politicians",not math teachers.You do the math.

truthfulverdad

PLEASE! A Captain goes on 4 calls a day (yes in 24 hours) ALL false alarms where they are sent right back within five minutes to the station to watch the football game they were so rudely interrupted from watching while making 300$ an hour. They handle about 3 fires a year mostly kitchen fires done in an hour . AND these are the guys that are actually on the "beat" working calls. The administrators that NEVER get to be anywhere around danger rack over $200,000 a year. This stuff about dying five years after retirement; what massive BS. Go see the City of Miami Fire Dept web site and click "retirees" and see these Firefighters retired for decades partying at their meeting.

Guest

What I find appalling is that there are barely 10 women out of 737

Soledad829

All the posters saying that an employee should live within the city limits is not being very realistic. You people make it sound like its so easy to buy a house and move. Since when did the people in this country or city concentrate more on what others have than putting more effort into making their lives better. I don't bitch about what a pro athlete makes because he's doing something i didn't want to or can't do. I dont bitch about the money that a lawyer or doctor makes because i made my choices in life and i either accept them and STFU or change them.

3-4 day work weeks

Many City of Miami fire department employees only work 3-4 days a week. That leaves time to commute to their homes in Broward, PalmBeach and Martin Counties. Oh, they commute in taxpayer owned vehicles using fuel purchased by taxpayers.

City elected officials are sooo easy to deceive.

soledad829

Another idiot talking out of his ass with no clue.

Python800

3-4 day weeks add up to 72-96 hour weeks!!

Bankruptcy awaits

The City of Miami is going bankrupt because elected officials vastly overpay a majority of the employees.

The Fire Department employees get 300% more than comparable private sector employees.

Fire Chief gets a $390,000 pay and benefit package including the pension contribution,

Pensions add more

Thieves.Don't forget to add in the $90 MILLION cost of the pension contribution. Pigs.

Add 50%...

50% to 60%.

The taxpayers pay another 50% to 60% to each employee on the list for pensions, health care, take-home vehicles, 3-4 weeks of paid vacation, 11 paid Holidays, cell phone allowance, tuition reimbursement, and dozens of other perks bestowed on the best paid employees.

Add 50% to the chart.

loveboat2010

I THINK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOULD TAKE MORE PAY CUTS THAN THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. THOSE MAKING OVER 100k A YEAR SHOULD ALSO TAKE CUTS, LEAVE THE THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT ACTUALLY WORK ALONE.I WOULD THEN LOOK IN TO AND CUT THE PET PROJECTS GOING ON IN CITY HALL THIS WOULD NOT ONLY BALANCE THE BUDGET BUT WE WOULD HAVE A SURPLUS.THE REST OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE NOT ENJOYED SPIKES IN SALARY SO THOSE THAT HAVE ENJOYED HUGE SALARIES SHOULD TAKE THE CUTS PERIOD.WISHFUL THINKING

PYTHON800

You will be happy to know the Miami fire department DID take more pay cuts than any other City employee.Too bad they can't have their workload reduced as well!!

Losses pile up

Corrupt City of Miami elected officials continue voting to approve union contracts and employment agreements that make employees multi-millionaires.

Because of these corrupt policies the City loses over $1 mil per week.

Greedy City Managers

This list of public sector employees becoming multi-millionaires at the expense of hard working private sector employees shows the deterioration of capitalism.

99% of private sector employees do not get the pay and perks these jerks get.

Overpaid employees

This list of 737 public sector employees who make over $100,000 is old. Now the list is larger.

Every elected official and every decision maker should review this list.

Paper pushing firemen? The fire employees who sit at desks make the most? Taxpayers get screwed.

The City of Miami is the poorest small city in America and yet the fire employees are "the best paid firemen in the world".

Not sustainable.

Disgusted taxpayer

Disgusting.

The Fire Department paper pushing "executives" never see fires and they never leave their desk except to take their taxpayer owner "take-home" vehicle home to Broward or Palm Beach County.

85% of Fire and Police employees live outside Miami.

Disgusting.

The fire department is so understaffed that even with the ridiculous amount of overtime that firefighters work, trucks are being placed OUT OF SERVICE everyday. When are the city residents (myself included) going to realize that maybe the problem isn't within the fire or police department? I would begin from the top starting with the mayor, commisioners, and so on. In the mean time however, I'm going to sleep tonight knowing that Fire and Police service are understaffed and hopefully I will not them any time soon. DD

Atsobe

You can donate your money....My tax dollars....these should go to fix my community - increase police, and keep my FF ready ready to respond any emergency.........

Bocefus200

What would be cool is if the citizens had the chance to clearly see what local taxes actually go to, and have a chance to influence where they go

Python800

As a citizen of the City, I would love to have input as to where tax dollars are spent, unfortuately, this commission has painted the police and firefighters as the cause of their"fiscal urgency" instead of their overzealous and irresponsible economic spending. and note to the unions: FIGHT THIS PR WAR!!The City has you guys painted as the bad guys when the truth is just the opposite!!

JUANA

You should be the first donor. Absolutely! Thats a great idea.

JUANA

Like you would know this....Im assuming they didnt hire YOU? Let me guess you have a really good job?

overtown

By your logic, any person without a really good job or that wasn't hired by the police, has no way of knowing facts about police operations? Are you saying that the police operate in complete secrecy and that ordinary people have no idea about what really goes on? Well, since you are obviously a police officer, and since you obviously wish (and think) that citizens have no clue about what anyone in your department does, it is with a heavy heart that I must pass on the tragic but realistic news to you: people can find out plenty of things in the information age. Now, turn off the department issued laptop being powered by the city's electricity bill, and fuck the fuck off with your bullshit about how the people living in Miami should fork over every last penny to worthless, useless, unproductive government employees like you that would never know what real work even means. If you were ever relied upon to improve the profitability of a company you would fail miserably and be fired immediately. You are trying very hard, and succeeding, at proving just how expertly you can exist in this world while being a living example of the accounting definition of a liability. You could never exist on a balance sheet.

younosabe

alot of that police budget goes to officers that have to go to court and work overtime details keeping your neighbor from killing everything site.

juckstan

Typical wasteful Govermmnet, I am not surprised at all.www.anon-tools.au.tc

Python800

Hey I think those who serve in our military are WAAAYYYYY underpaid!!! They deserve super high salaries...and first dibbs at police and fire jobs when they return!!

JUANA

They called you a dumbass....such class : ) LOVE IT!

Bocefus200

Juana in all respect I find it hard to believe that u don't think these aren't unecessarily inflated. Public service has always come along with decent, but modest pay. Pay for a standard police captain, 280k is obviously over paying when the masses of lower ranked street cops, fire fighters, military and essential city workers r the ones taking the brunt of spending cuts

Python800

i know....BAHAHAHA. hurt my feelings

Python800

Miami is the only market in Florida where the occupancy rate is above 90 percent, and retail rental rates are above an average of $18 ($21.84 per-square-foot to be exact). In fact, retail store vacancy has dropped during each of the five past quarters."Miami is on fire," said Greg Masin, senior director of retail services at Cushman & Wakefield, told the paper. "The phone is ringing with retailers who want to be here. Some people are still hurting, but in general this town is healthier than people give us credit for."Which of course means developers are taking notice, and planning more commercial projects. Businesses like big box stores, dollar stores and fast casual restaurants are looking for new space.This was an article from this newspaper...

The City of Miami government needs to STOP putting the burden of their own fiscal ineptness on the backs of the hard working employees!

PYTHON800

Many of those top salaries are paid for by the FEDERAL government for overtime work these firefighters have done for FEMA. The CITY is reimbursed that money( of course they mismanage it). Let's get real people, those salaries are WAY inflated. plus.....those salaries don't reflect the deep pay cuts these guys took. Oh and by they way...they are still proudly saving lives and property.

Atsobe

Fire and Police staff - at least they run in to things you normally run from - what gets me is the rest of the people on this list -- I like to see them "get" a real job in the "real" world.

Shame on you for stealing from the taxpayers, shame on us taxpayers allowing it...We need to take the city back from this bananarepublic government.....they run that place no different than Fidelito........

Python800

They deserve EVERY penney!!! Thank you for all your sacrifices and service!!! Keep up the great work.

overtown

They deserve no more than two or three pennies over their base salary. Based upon your writing style I have to assume you are between the age of 7 and 9. It is great that you support your fathers career since he works for the city, but you should refrain from making comments on the internet.

Python800

hope you never need them!! sleep well!!!

Angie Alzola

WHO THE F*CK is JOSEPH ZAHRALBAN??? I'm an Exec Asst and I want to earn $176K+!!!!

Good God, I hate to sound like a socialist/commie, but c'mon.... at a time when the economy is so crappy and the city is cutting services for which we're still being taxed, is this REALLY APPROPRIATE??? REALLY??

JUANA

Youre probably an Executive Assistant at some paper pushing or calculator punching office. If Hurricane Irene would've have hit, Joe Zahralban and countless other FF's and Police would be the one you'd want there. You'd be where? At home with your family, safe? While these people sacrifice their lives daily to assure the safety of the Citizens (FF & Police alike). What is the price for that? What, 50k? That good for you? Well let them know and you'll get what you pay for.

The Firefighters are Police are the ones who go where you probably wouldn't have the guts to. Those salaries were definitely inflated and way before the pay cuts they took last year.

Dont you know by now that Newspapers print what you want to see? If they gave the real numbers, people would probably still not be happy.

They make what they should. Do all? Maybe not, but those are things being addressed at this time. Next time you need a family member who needs CPR or a life saving....maybe you have the skills? Let me guess, you'll call 911, right?

Dont forget 911, dont forget the sacrifice they make for YOU and your loved ones on a daily basis. Stop bitchin and moning and change your career if you aren't happy. Dont frown upon those who chose different.

Guest

PS My brother makes $15 an hour driving an ambulance in NYC and he can even give you CPR and check yoru vitals. So Juana, your rationale is screwed up.

iedaqkck

Yes, and we already pay them for their service. I just paid a bill the other day because I don't have medical insurance you see, so I had to pay about $350 for their service and I don't mind about that but dude, I didn't know they are already being paid by the city. This is crap.

Soledad829

Correct sir. He drives an ambulance. Here in Miami, it's fire rescue. FIRE AND RESCUE. Firefighter and Paramedic. 2 jobs in one. Every truck is equipped with firemen who are paramedics who have tools, bunker gear, and equipment to go into a burning building and treat medical patients. FIRE RESCUE is not an ambulance.

Guest

Zillions of occupations risk life everyday and do not get paid $100k:soldiers, CIA agents, miners, aligator wrestlers, trapeze artist.

America is the only country on the planet that pays outlandish salaries to police and fire.

overtown

An executive assistant risking their life? Who would even want an executive assistant around in a crisis; the executive would be hiding in their bunker. Juana, I know they pay you, and they pay you well. Clearly you make over $200,000.00 per year, paid for by the actual people that live in Miami, and just look how you're spending your time. You are here (as ordered by your executive master), defending the money you steal from the pockets of the poor. You must feel so proud, so brave, so useful, and so important, as you type out your lies, cash your checks, and show your hatred for America. What are you really going to do during a hurricane? Put someone on hold when they call for your boss? Forward an email? Open the mail? You will do nothing useful, nothing worthwhile, and absolutely nothing worth more than $8 per hour.

cubalibre12

What's the big deal with employess of the City not living in the City? Aren't there people in the City that work else where? Is this going to be the rule for everybody to work where they live? That's ubsurd! Is this going to take care of the fiscal urgency the City is facing? The problem lies with the Commisioners and Mayor! Remember the comission and mayor are only here a short time and the employees of the city stay and work for over 30 years! City leaders only put in one term and are elible for full health insurance and full pension for the rest of their lives payed for totally by the city tax payers with no out of pocket expense to them. On the other hand the employees contribute up to 10% of their salary to their own pension which in some cases may take until they worked over 40 years of service to receive! Yet now they are the problem. Why don't you ask the City leaders why they agreed to all these salaries that disgust you so! While you're at it ask them why they didn't promote so these guys would'nt have to work over 1500 hours of overtime in one year servicing the taxpayers of the City? Hey "overtown" maybe your'e one of those City atorneys that made the list and is directly working for the City leaders that are stealing from taxpayers and blaming someone else! I've been a firefighter for the City for over 19 years and only take home 50K a year. No, I don't live in the City. I can't afford it!

foreal

I HIGHLY doubt any of the people on that list are risking their lives. Now I do have highest respect for police and firefighters, but to say these upper echelon high rollers are doing that would be a stretch....

PYTHON800

Well said JUANA

Python800

Are you out of your medication?? Please get a refill, you are scaring me :-

overtown

It certainly was "said" well, thanks to Juana's spell checking and grammar checking software. However, the actual message he or she tried to deliver is propaganda, and if you disagree we can obviously safely state that you are likely the same individual posting under the username of Juana, posting under a different name to garner support for the absolutely worthless shit that you expect anyone with reading comprehension to believe.

Inbtwdaze

I CAN'T believe HOW MANY WOMEN are on this list!!! (intense sarcasm, if you didn't catch it)

livinginabananarepublic

Wilfredo Gort Board Of Commissioners - $108,359.52

Note this salary includes a $50,000 expense account given to commissioners and mayor voted in by commissioners. No receipts required and it all goes toward their "free pension" to which they are eligible for life after 7 years of service. (Shhh don't mention their benefit packages - car allowances + police (personal bodyguard) chauffeured vehicles , fee health insurance, cellphones - no telling what else.)Not bad for "part-time work".

EndThisSheeet

Maximum should be $90,000 AND they should have to live IN Miami. Otherwise people are in it for the wrong reasons. I'm way above average in schooling, intelligence and private corporation salary and I'm not six figures, no reason my taxes should be overpaying for these THIEVES.