Number of Miami Dade County Take Home Vehicles (THVs) – (a.k.a. “24-hour vehicle assignments”) is 3,310.
Life Cycle Cost of Take Home Vehicles:
MD Police Department (2,698 THVs at $39,000 ea.): $105,222,000
MD Fire Rescue (28 THVs at $39,000 ea.): $1,092,000
Other Departments (584 THVs at $30,000 ea.): $17,520,000
Total: $123,834,000.
Potential Savings From Elimination of Take Home Vehicles Assumptions:
MDPD (2,698 THVs): Fuel Savings $1.3 million-$3.6 million
MDFR (28 THVs): Fuel Savings $13,000-$37,000
Other Departments (584 THVs): Fuel Savings $280,000-$771,000
Total Savings (3,310): $1.6 million-$4.4 million
For a full explanation of this issue look at 3 pages below.
47 comments:
Another great piece of research. I truly hope the Mayor's office is paying attention. As a taxpayer, this just pisses me off almost as much as the bloated salary/benefits in County hall - which I pay for and have absolutely little or no voice in!
I challenge anyone making over 150K as a County employee to find comparable work in the private sector - you won't and that's why I'm pissed.
Most of the sworn staff who receive take home cars DO NOT CONDUCT ANY PATROLS. If someone does not perform patrols, they don't need a police car at all. Not a take home car NOR a fleet car.
gimenez had take home cars at the city of miami as a fire chief and city manager. he had a take home mercedes benz as a county commissioner. Gimemnez is part of that government worker entitlement culture and he thinks government employees should have perks like that. dont expect any changes.
What did Huey Long say during the Great Depression? "A pollo in every pot and a car in every garage ..."
Most of the take home cars are for cops. Other cities, like Los Angeles, keep the cars at the stations and rotate shifts using them. Not in the South where the tradition is to let officers take the cars home. You might have to take this perk away through collective bargaining.
It's not the South that has that tradition, just South Florida. It's a travesty and a disgusting waste of taxpayer resources.
Take away cops' take home cars??? C'mon, how are we going to survive without all these municipal cars sitting in neighborhoods dozens of miles outside their city limits?
Dennis Moss tried to get rid of this perk after his first election. He was rewarded with a full court press by the PBA and almost lost. He learned his lesson.
Once the commission get shish kabobbed by the take home car issue, they can move on to the excessive number of firefighters who go on calls, the use of the wrong trucks for calls, overtime pay for all kinds of issues that should be straight time, etc.
Also, when will we stop paying to have a police car sitting at every construction project in South Florida? Exactly what are they doing? We end up paying for it in higher gas taxes and road funds.
Geez, don't get me started.
To the last anon who is worried about the political power of the police union. This is a different era. The PBA throw everything they could at Gimenez and lost. Everyone knows take home cars are waste of money and a huge drain. And who cares what the commissioners think? It's ultimately an administrative decision of the mayor. The commission can fund the cars, but they cant force the mayor to continue the practice.
Last anon - I think the take home cars are in the union contract though I'd love to be wrong.
If that ridiculous item is in the contract, it should be removed in the next one. The contract expires Sept 30, 2011. Gimenez already expects to go to impasse over salary givebacks. Remove take home cars at the same time.
Gimenez and all the administrators that have the big "car allowance" need to leave their cars and take public transportation to work everyday. They should get a monthly pass as a "perk". When they start having to deal with the buses and the metro, we will start seeing better services in public transportation. We pay for the public transportation and their cars. Why do we have to pay both?
tom
the department directors downtown don't drive anywhere and yet they still get huge car allowances for their fancy luxury cars.
as long as those highly paid directors have car allowances and executive benefits, you cannot tell me they need to get another 8% salary cut from all union employees.
Q: Guess who's husband is a member of the Police Benevolent Association and receives a take home car?
A: Budget Director Jennifer Glazer-Moon's husband Sgt. Chris Moon. Sgt. Moon worked for the Training Bureau under Bernie Gonzalez (who abruptly retired after it was discovered he was leading private police consulting trips to Panama). Not sure if Moon is still assigned to training duties but I am sure he still has a plush, non-patrol assignment.
Its amazing what a budget crunch will reveal. All the wasteful spending and money dedicated to the high level and selected people. Remove the cars, cell phones, discretionary funds for events, gas allowances, rent on private office space, trips to conventions and so-call trade meetings, slash commissioners 800,00 dollar staffs to $50,000 dollars, The organizations that come a begging every year need to step their grant writing up. I thought these organizations should once they receive seed money from the county should now be self sufficient. Yet every year they come a begging and hollering. We love to help out but now its time to seriously, place everything on the table. Mr. Mayor you have a lot of cutting to do before your reelection in 2012. I HOPE YOU HAVE THE STOMACH FOR IT.
Take Home Vehicles, allowances, gas. maintenance, tolls - all these things have been advise but NO one
wants to do anything about it - Just take it off the backs of the employees.
Those that do not make the 100,000.00 which is about 70% of the actual workforce - sure take more money from a $22,000.00 secretary!
Are you all going to reassign police officers to local stations? Do you think that an officer who lives in north dade should pay for the wear and tear on his personal car when the county decides to transfer him to the hammocks?
A forty mile trip one way in rush hour traffic is much different than a ten mile trip. The 80 mile trip is harder on the personal cars and the officer. And if they are a supervisor who gets call-outs then they have to do that 80 mile trip twice in one day.
And if that Hammocks officer who lives in North Dade has to report to the station to pick-up a police car and then turn around and go back to downtown for court, then we will be paying for that officers time south and then his time north. If they are going to to court on their days off, they that drive time is going to cost us more money. If you will require at officers go to court only on regular work hours, there be lots of cases with dismissals or someone will go nuts trying to reschedule people and get coverage on the streets while officers are off the road in court.
Also, their personal insurance companies are going to balk at covering a uniformed police officer in his personal car...they are considered on duty on the way to work and home, if even they are no being paid for the time.
It is very complicated and we need to careful think about the car issue. It may be that the wear and tear on the cars is less and costs less than what increased personel costs would be to have the cars at home with the officer.
What they need to do, is get the older cars off the road and use the new ones they have stored out on the streets. Having a car with 90k running is not as cost effective as having a new car that has a warranty to charge repairs to. Police cars are driven hard and an older car with high mileage may need the transmission replaced or the alternator replaced frequently...particularly since the county goes to the lowest bidder for car parts, rebuilt parts at that.
This county is sick.
Many of us travel for our jobs. What is the problem with going to and from work with your OWN car? Use the police vehicle when you are on the clock.
Why are txpayers paying $39,000 for a Ford sedan without the police equipment, if we are buying a couple of thousand? Sounds to me like a no bid contract.
Police officers are on duty going to and from work and court
And - when they are on duty they have use of a car. They don't need to take it home. Why do they need a car when they are off duty when another shift could be using it?
"Do you think that an officer who lives in north dade should pay for the wear and tear on his personal car when the county decides to transfer him to the hammocks?"
Is the anon who wrote that joking? When I was transferred to another office, who paid for the wear and tear on my personal car? (I DID!) I even rent a place instead of owning so I can be prepared if my work location changes significantly. Since when are employers responsible for employee commuting expenses?
County employees are so out of touch with reality!
There are several ways of looking a this. If cars are fairy factored into compensation, this may look worse that it should. However, does this mean that the county also has increased exposure to liability if there are car accidents. I mean, if someone were to be in an accident on county time and doing county business, that's fine. However, if someone runs a pedestrian over on a Saturday going to the grocery store - who is liable? I prefer for compensation to be reflected in salary - where things are straight forward and transparent.
Last anon: the question of whether the car is part of compensation or is equipment that is a necessary part of the job is an interesting one. The Mayor should do a study of how the departments we compete with compensate and equip officers. I expect the county is the most costly, especially when compared to large departments.
Take home vehicles is another perk given to thousands too many "public servants".
Gimenez needs to sell 50% of the County fleet immediately.
Look, there are numerous studies that show that take-homes are better taken care of and last longer than pool cars. Google it, for chrissakes. There are reasons why these programs are implemented although I wouldn't expect any of you to be the least bit interested because your reasoning is totally centered on the fact that someone is getting paid better than you for the time being.
Let me ask you all something. So when times are bad, public servants are expected to give. Fine. When times are good, will they receive? Or does this self-centered argument that you all are offering up only work one way?
I remember the good old days of the 90's when everyone was making money hand over fist and a government job pretty much sucked compared to the salaries of the private sector. Remember that? Sure you do because none of you were complaining back then.
You all continue to be perfect little pawns for the GOP. "It's the fault of the public servant! Smaller government is the answer!" They appreciate you doing their dirty work for them.
Stop complaining...my family took an 18% pay cut and we pay for our own health insurance...and no pension here. Get off the cross we need the wood! It isn't only the public servant that is taking the cuts -- although we PAY the public servants so we have an interest. Maybe the public servants should keep a low profile instead of throwing money at bad candidates that hurt the rest of us.
"Get off the cross we need the wood!" that's rich genius. Wood make for needed fire.
The higher up the pyramid scheme we look, the more those bureaucrats seem to feel entitled.
They aught to take that car home... and keep it, assume the cost.
I am so stealing that "get off the cross" thing. Too funny. As to cars going home, what happens when someone is in an accident with the county car? Does the county get sued? If so, I am for limiting our liabilty and insurance expenses and paying straight salaries with car allowances where applicable.
Libraries are closing and poor kids won't be able to get their homework done, but these people (and I'm not talking about the cops) get to take their cars home?????? How about when you get home we send all those poor kids to your house to use your computer?
I love you guys! Maybe because you sound so much like me!
Keep on doing my work! Hugs.
Thanks Rick glad to help.
Was that really the Governor or was it a wise ass using his name?
Wise ass of course. Rick Scott doesn't know how to type.
And - when they are on duty they have use of a car. They don't need to take it home.
When they are on the way to work or court from home and the way home they ARE on duty.
This officers do maintain their cars better than pool cars. When the cars are in use 24/7 they are scuzzy and roach filled. If a car goes home, the officer doesn't want to be the owner of the roaches... nothing like having one go up your leg while driving.
Do commissioners need car allowances?
Are you saying cops are pigs?
I hope Carlos Gimenez didn't give new hire Chip the $225,000 fireman, a take home vehicle with his $225,000 package?
Carlos,
Don't morph into Alvarez.
Chip is doing both Dennis Morales' and George Burgess' jobs.. 1 for 2, and $225,000 vs, $700,000. I say we got a bargain... And Chip is actually competent, and as honest as they come... Not the same for Morales and Burgess...
Denis worked? I didn't realize that. Did he work while he was on the 29th floor?
Morales and Burgess were idiots but seriously? Chip is a fireman. EMT calls, occasional fires, lots of cooking... Has Chip ever worked in the private sector?
How many pensions is Chip getting?
"Do you think that an officer who lives in north dade should pay for the wear and tear on his personal car when the county decides to transfer him to the hammocks?"
Is the anon who wrote that joking? When I was transferred to another office, who paid for the wear and tear on my personal car? (I DID!) I even rent a place instead of owning so I can be prepared if my work location changes significantly. Since when are employers responsible for employee commuting expenses?
County employees are so out of touch with reality!
No, Kathy. Not all county employees are like the policemen or other who are out of touch with reality. Most of us are not like that. 20% of the county employees make more than 65% of the payroll.
Take home vehicles are just another way unions and public sector workers steal from the taxpayers.
All I can say... If you want to pay the overtime and you want to have tired people responding to your calls...and u want to have to pay for the expenses related to a sleep deprived officer getting injured or worse....take away the drive home cars and don't adjust their business location.
Don't get sucked into the glam of tv cops...it ain't fun to work a shift and then have drive to court and sit for hours waiting without sleep. It ain't fun to be shot at and hear the bullets fly past your ears... Someone is doing a job to protect your family, your business and you. So don't be rude, freaking arrogant and cocky about it.
If you are thinking it is such a well paid job, then go signup for a shift ride. I hope you get to visit a crime scene with a body. And enjoy being given a bullet proof vest and told to stay in the car while your officer checks out the premises alone.
Police officers are not perfect and they are not pigs, by the
way. Cars that are run 24/7 do not get the down time to be
cleaned and washed. Who do you think cleans the vomit
and poop out of the cars when when of the arrestees lets
loose? Most of the time it is the cops. Who wipes the cars interior down with disinfectant so if YOU happen to get to sit in the cage (arrested) it is cleaner for you? Do you think that stuff is in the contracts you all are belly aching about?
The stats show police officers die younger than the rest of us. I believe the average surveil rate after retirement is about 4 years or a bit longer.... Does that mean anything? It isn't part of the written contracts either. How many of you contract to risk your life daily and then roll the dice on your life expectancy?
Please be smart about police jobs. It ain't the movies.
Ps. I am not a po nor a government employee nor married to a po. I am a citizen that wants people to be rational.
To the person about the cars. I don't think those are plain old cars. I think they have heavy duty parts like transmissions and alternators because when they are powered with all the equipment the car needs to be ready to accept the load.
Its funny how many people have an opinion when so few really know what they are talking about. Miami Dade is a service driven economy but the people insists on salary reductions for public servants. How much do you really think that saves you as an individual taxpayer? I would have gone out of business if the locals weren’t spending money. The Mayor’s $440 million dollar proposed tax reductions only saves home owners $10 dollars per month but the reduction in service makes the quality of life miserable here in Miami. How much will it hurt the rest of small businesses in our community if 27,000 county employees take more pay cuts? At least this money is being spent here and on local services. Keep in mind that we already drove away all the manufacturing jobs that paid well now you want to kill government jobs? No wonder the US can’t crawl out of this hole!
Its not us verses them. Can you imagine how expensive it would be if our front line public servants did not protect us in their daily decision making. The county gets sued all the time! We need these employees to represent us and do a good job documenting incidents and enforcing local ordinance. I overheard a police officer saying that he is disturbed by the taxpayer’s negative attitude towards him and that he was going to do his best to stay off the radar. The other officer said that they were obviously doing too good of a job since people have started to hate public employees more than they hate criminals. I confronted one of them outside and he sounded passionate but broken. He said that the truth is in the middle and only the extremes are communicating. The very next day I saw a Miami Dade Firefighter intubate a child on the street after a car crash. I have never been that close to an accident to see what was happening but all the firefighters were working hard to save that boys life. Ultimately, I am willing to pay the very best people a very good salary but I have to believe that they are all capable of doing their job and willing to execute at my families best interest. If they uphold their side of the agreement, I will uphold mine but we can’t afford to not know if our public safety professional are going to abandon us during our time of need. Its just too important.
any insiders have the names of officer who take their cars to collier and palm beach counties?
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