But …

You gotta hand it to North Miami City Manager Theresa Therilus.

Less than three months at City Hall, and not only is she doing the job that her predecessors couldn’t do, but she’s cleaning up the hot financial mess they created and left behind.

Posted today on the City’s website is the FY 20-21 Preliminary Budget, which will be discussed and voted on at tomorrow evening’s virtual Special Meeting 1st Budget Hearing.

We have not had time to thoroughly review this preliminary budget in depth as it was made public only this afternoon, but the most important thing you need to know right now is this:

City Manager Theresa Therilus slashed North Miami’s General Fund budget by nearly $11.5 million!

It’s a good start.

Unfortunately, she only cut the Mayor and Council’s budget by $39,279, or approximately 2.6%, from last year’s $1,505,663 to $1,466,384.

The Manager cut her own budget by $69,061, approximately 2.2%, from $3,149,181 to $3,080,120, and the City Attorney’s budget by $38,737, approximately 2.6%, from $1,494,828 to $1,120,607.

The Clerk’s budget was increased by $58,853, but if you take into consideration the additional $215,000 needed for next May’s election, the Clerk’s budget was actually cut by $156,147 from its usual annual expenses.

As you can see, personnel expenses are being drastically cut by $4,897,646 over last year.

It’s anyone’s guess how many employees’ jobs are on the line, but according to the Budget Workshop Presentation given on August 20, 2020, the Manager is contemplating laying off at least 25 full-time employees and 107 part-time employees.

The most excruciating cut of all was made to Grants and Aids in the amount of $2,668,572, or a whopping 63.5% over its FY2019-20 budget.

Of that amount, $2,500,000 is being cut from Community Planning & Development (CP&D), which department is now stuck paying the $226,156 annual rent for Deputy City Manager Arthur “Duke” Sorey’s Red Garden Sinkhole.  Even with having that money pit dumped in its lap, the CP&D budget was still cut by $3,060,456, or approximately 70%, from $4,352,947 to $1,292,491.

Part of those savings, however, are now being spent on Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime’s pet project (and unofficial campaign war chest), Housing & Social Services in the amount of $1,115,674.  This department was created at his insistence in 2019 after he won the mayoral seat for the sole purpose of creating “thank you” jobs for his special friends who helped him campaign, and to be able to dole out money and services to voters to ensure his re-election next May.

Because there just weren’t enough turkeys to go around.

Besides, with the special events budget profoundly diminished due to the pandemic, and thus greatly hampering Philippe’s ability to overtly campaign on the city’s dime, he’ll have to get even more creative this time around.

In the meantime, we’ll keep on hoping that someone steps up and challenges him for his seat before election season begins.

In any event, if you have the time please review the preliminary budget and then watch the meeting Thursday evening.

Here is the information if you plan to virtually attend and participate:

• Register to Attend Link www.northmiamifl.gov/budgethearing
• Digital Access Instructions www.northmiamifl.gov/vcminstructions
• To Listen Only Dial: 1-562-247-8422, access code 573-753-145
• For additional information, please call the North Miami Budget Office at 305-895-9894

Remember, North Miami residents, it’s your money they’re spending.

Pay attention and GET INVOLVED!

Stephanie