Miami-Dade approves contracts with police officers and firefighters

It appears unlikely that there will be any pink slips for Miami-Dade police officers and firefighters now that the county has approved three-year contracts for both unions.

During his 2011 campaign for county mayor, Carlos Gimenez pledged not to lay off police officers or firefighters. The annual county budget approved by commissioners Sept. 23, 2011, didn't lay off any sworn police officers or firefighters but Gimenez left open that possibility as the county negotiated contracts with the unions. In October, Gimenez threatened to send pink slips to about 90 police officers later that month but ultimately that didn't happen as negotiations progressed.

On Dec. 5, 2011, the Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association overwhelmingly voted for a new contract that avoids layoffs. The three-year contract will save the county $56 million, the Miami Herald reported, by cutting some incentive pay and overtime among other changes. On Dec. 6, the County Commission voted 12-0 in favor of the contract.

The cost-cutting for the police department isn't over, the Herald reported. The county still wants an additional $18 million and commissioners will vote later in December on whether employees should kick in an extra 5 percent of their salary toward health insurance, doubling their contribution. The impasse items will be heard by county commissioners Dec. 19.

"Once the impasse items are resolved, then we will know if there are no layoffs," county spokeswoman Suzy Trutie told PolitiFact Florida in an email.

On Nov. 14, firefighters agreed to a contract that trimmed about $20.6 million and cut back on overtime and instituted three-day furloughs each year while keeping cost of living and merit increases. The $20.6 million is the estimated savings in the first year of the agreement, however the savings will be recurring over the life of the agreement unless changes happen as part of the reopener on the third year, Trutie said in an email. County commissioners approved the contract 7-3 on Nov. 15.

We will wait to see how the county handles the health insurance contribution on Dec. 19 but the county is close to resolving contract issues that could avert layoffs. We rate this promise In the Works.