North Miami is a relatively small city in Miami-Dade County. In its 10 square miles, it is home to approximately 60,900 residents. It is also home to about 2,000 businesses. The median income per household is $57,188, with the per capita income (single person) is $26,813. Indeed, 18.9% of North Miami’s residents live under the federal poverty line.
NM is divided by four political districts and a mayor who presides over the entire city.
Designed to be a part time, policy driven position, North Miami’s electeds have time and time again raised their salaries and benefits during budget seasons.
Currently, here is where North Miami stands in terms of the pay and care of their elected officials:
North Miami Mayor Salary: $89,880 per year, with a travel budget of $25,000 a year
North Miami Council Salary: $77,910 per year, with a travel budget of $10,000 a year
North Miami Clerk Salary: $77,910 per year
Extras: $100,000 discretionary account for councilmembers per year ($25K each), City issued Purchase credit card with a $5,000 per month limit, $750 a month car allowance, OR a city issued vehicle, $200 a month phone stipend. North Miami also pays a hefty 58.68% required employer (your money!) contribution rate to their Florida Retirement System each year.
*Note there is credible evidence that in the past, council members (and Management!) have abused the $750 car allowance by accepting the funds while ALSO driving city issued cars, a concept referred to as “double-dipping.” But that’s a story for another blog!
North Miami electeds certainly advocate for their own interests! Begs the question who is serving whom in this quest for “public service.”
Comparatively, if one were to look at some other municipalities similar in size and population within Miami-Dade County pay rate:
Aventura: (Population 40,242)
Mayor Salary: $10,000 with an annual expense allowance of $18,414
Council Salary: $7,500 with an annual expense allowance of $18,414
Extras: No cell phone allowance nor any city issued credit cards.
Coral Gables: (Population 48,353)
Mayor Salary: $70,980 with annual expense allowance of $9,600
Vice-Mayor Salary: $68,923 with annual expense allowance of $9,600
Council Salary: $67,000
Extras: City issued cell phones, no city issued credit cards
Cutler Bay: (Population 43,762)
Mayor Salary: $21,112 with an annual $2,400 travel expense fund
Council Salary: $10,555
Extras: Cellphone allowance of $1,800 per year
Doral: (Population 79,359)
Mayor Salary: $80,690 with an annual travel allowance of $10,000
Council Salary: $19,355 with an annual travel allowance of $5,000
Extras: No city credit cards, each elected also receives $6,000 a year for “dues and memberships” and an additional monthly stipend of $2,500 for city related lunch meetings and business expenses.
Homestead: (Population 81,659)
Mayor Salary: $6,000 a year, $12,500 annual auto expense, travel allotment of $7,500 and $9,600 public relations expense account
Council Salary:$4,800 a year, $11,500 annual auto expense, $25,550 “travel and training” expense account as well as a public relations annual fund of $7,100.0
Extras: Not indicated
Miami: (Population 455,924)
Mayor Salary: $97,000 plus a $2,500 expense fund
Council Salary: $58,200 with an annual expense account of $2,667
Extras: $300 phone allowance, $900 vehicle allowance, both monthly
Miami Beach: (Population 79,607)
Mayor Salary: $10,000, with an annual taxable “fringe benefits pay” of $37,800
Council Salary: $6,000 with an annual taxable “fringe benefits pay” of $42,516
Extras: Reimbursement for travel expenses
Miami Gardens: (Population 110,717)
Mayor Salary: $80,000 with an annual expense fund of $14,400, an annual travel budget of $15,000, $6,000 annual auto expense allotment
Council Salary: $40,000 with an annual expense fund of $14,400
Extras: City issued credit card, $552 phone stipend for Mayor and Council
Now that readers are acquainted with the feeding and care of North Miami electeds, in Part 2, we will discuss what exactly residents get for their hard earned money. Stay tuned!
Addendum:
Upon further research, our editorial team uncovered a 2018 report by the Commission on Ethics and Public Trust that we would like to bring to our readers attention.
On page 13, the document discusses the North Miami compensation package. At the time of this report, the population of North Miami was slightly higher than it is now, at approximately 62,139 residents. Here is the full text of the portion of the report reflecting North Miami’s compensation package for elected officials:
The compensation for the Mayor, Council Members and the elected Clerk is set by ordinance.
The Mayor made a base salary of $59, 880 and received taxable fringe benefits of $17,640 that are classified as an expense allowance, an auto allowance and a cell phone allowance from non-accountable funds. Additionally, the Mayor has a $10,000 budget to cover travel.
The Council Members were paid a salary of $47,910 and received $17,400 in taxable fringe benefits to cover expenses, car and mobile phone. Additionally, each Council Member had a $5,000 travel budget and a $7,000 discretionary fund.
The Mayor and Council also share a budget of $5,500 for keys to the city, black velvet boxes to contain the keys, plaques, certificates, cakes and other items. They are each issued City credit cards.
The Clerk, an elected position in North Miami, received an annual salary of $47,910 and $16,200 in taxable fringe benefits. The Clerk had a travel budget for himself and his staff of $13,500. The Clerk is not issued a City credit card, though he travels using a card issued to one of his deputy clerks.
North Miami reformed its use of non-accountable expense allowances back in 2007, in response to an inquiry from the Ethics Commission. At the time the Mayor made a salary of only $4,200 per year and the Council Members were paid just $3,600 annually. When the City decided to take away their taxable expense allowances, their salaries were raised to make up the difference. Those salaries have remained in place- with $12,000 a year raises handed out this year. At the same time, at some point between 2007 and last year, the City Council added back the expense allowances. This has amounted to a significant increase in the total compensation package for the City’s elected officials. The Mayor and the Council Members have each received what amounts to a 284 present raise.
The City Manager makes an annual $240,000.
The City participates in the Florida Retirement System, budgeting $115,076 to cover the contributions for the Mayor and Council, according to the formula established by the legislature.
——
As readers can begin to understand, North Miami’s population has remained fairly constant since 2007 until now, around 60,000 residents. The salaries of the local elected, however, have skyrocketed. Council went from $3,600 base pay in 2007 to $47,910 a year in 2018 to $57,188 today. This doesn’t even account for the very heavy cost of the “fringe benefits” that they now enjoy which seemingly are more gratuitous than any other city in Miami-Dade. ¿Que Loco! Sa fou nèt! That is crazy. It’s also completely unsustainable.