No police layoffs but department has faced pain

Mayor Carlos Gimenez said he would not lay off police officers, so he struck a deal that required them to pay more for health care. He also kept his word about not shuttering fire stations. So we rated this two-part promise as Promise Kept.

The Miami Herald wrote in March that although the police department avoided layoffs, it has still undergone significant changes, including getting rid of the cargo theft and auto theft task forces. It has also slashed specialized units that focus on homeland security, agricultural patrol and community policing.

Gimenez is expected to unveil his proposal for next year's budget in July 2012. He hasn't made any public commitments about the police budget, but the preliminary tax roll indicated a modest increase, which bodes well for his goal of averting police layoffs or closing fire stations.

John Rivera, president of the Police Benevolent Association, told PolitiFact Florida that he has received no indication so far from Gimenez about his plans for the next proposed budget. But he said that the county has sought a meeting with union officials regarding layoff procedures in addition to other issues. Rivera also said that although there have been no layoffs, there are hundreds of vacancies.

"We cannot continue operating the way we are,” he said. The PBA endorsed County Commission Chairman Joe Martinez, Gimenez's main challenger, in the Aug. 14 primary.

As for fire fighting, no fire stations were closed, said Rowan Taylor, president of the local firefighters union. Before this year's budget, two crews were dedicated to staff fire boats and that changed. Under Gimenez's budget a rescue crew responds as needed, Taylor said.

When the union interviewed Gimenez as part of the endorsement screening process in June, Gimenez said that there would be no further service cuts, Taylor said. The union endorsed Gimenez, a former firefighter.

This remains a Promise Kept, and we will watch what happens in the upcoming budget cycle.