Miami

Miami-Dade Mayor Says No Police Officer Cuts in New Budget: Report

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said Thursday that no police officer positions will be eliminated in the 2015 county budget, according to the Miami Herald.

Mayor Gimenez had previously warned that more than 100 officers could lose their jobs due to the constraints of the budget and the mayor’s vow to not raise property taxes. The budget was locked in at $64 million earlier this year as were property tax rates.

According to the Herald, Gimenez found $9 million in savings from selling county-rescue helicopters and instead leasing the choppers and from Jackson Health System leaving the county health-insurance fund.

The Police Benevolent Association had said as recently as two weeks ago that 250 officers were on the list to be cut and warned that wait times for police help could grow.

“Right now, on certain crimes, it’s taking us 3-4 hours to respond to calls,” PBA president John Rivera said in mid-August. “If you take another percentage, 20 percent out, people need to understand they’re gonna wait a long time for police service.”

While police officers will escape the budget axe, some cuts are still expected to hit the civilian ranks of the department, according to the Herald.

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