City of Miami and police union negotiators held a special meeting Wendesday in an effort to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement, but have yet to reach a deal.
City officials wants $12 million in concessions from the police union to help close a projected deficit of $60 million.
Deals with fire, sanitation, and general employees unions have already been reached, but the Fraternal Order of Police has balked at the city's requests.
"Our department right now is in turmoil internally because our officers lack morale, they lack money. They're going through desperate times," said police union president Armando Aguilar.
"Last night an officer called me at home crying, saying he's been working seven days a week to be able to pay the mortgage but now with more paycuts he's going to lose his mortgage. It's desperate times."
An agreement with the FOP must be in place soon for commissioners to pass a balanced budget by the end of the month.
The City of Miami declared a financial urgency this summer, opening up all the collective bargaining agreements for renegotiation.
