Politicians in Tamarac need to stop ripping off city taxpayers
The official motto of the city of Tamarac is “the city for your life.” But if you live there and you care how your tax money is spent, you might want to run for your life.
Welcome to the land of fiscal irresponsibility, where the people who run City Hall — most of them — care more about enriching themselves than being responsible stewards of the public purse.
In this northwest Broward suburb of less than 70,000 people, politicians already draw nice salaries and benefits. City commissioners make $50,240 a year, and the mayor earns $60,240 in these parttime positions. Full-time starting teachers, police officers and first responders all make less.
Tamarac politicians all get monthly car allowances and monthly cell phone stipends and there’s lots of money for out-of-town conferences. But obviously, that’s not enough. In February, they voted to also give themselves an annual expense account for local travel of $15,000 a year amid a pandemic in which so many Tamarac families are struggling. Only last September, commissioners voted to give themselves $25,000 for personal initiatives such as mailings or community events.
As Sun Sentinel staff writer Lisa J. Huriash reports, commissioners won’t have to document how they spend the new travel money, which they can use for travel within 100 miles of City Hall. But where’s everybody going during a pandemic?
Let’s call this what it really is. It’s a slush fund, pure and simple. The four who voted for it were Vice Mayor Elvin Villalobos and commissioners Marlon Bolton, Mike Gelin and Debra Placko. Only Mayor Michelle Gomez voted no. In an interview, she said: “I think it looks very bad. We have a higher responsibility to our residents.”
The latest ripoff of Tamarac taxpayers became law at a virtual commission meeting on Feb. 24, with no discussion, and not one taxpayer spoke for or against it.
The meeting video is online, but it won’t tell you much. That’s because the four who voted for the slush funds couldn’t be bothered rationalizing why they had to give themselves a back-door raise of $15,000. They spent more time during that meeting arguing over how long their lunch break would last.
Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach and Weston are all bigger cities, and they and others are more fiscally prudent about handing out perks to politicians. Pompano’s five elected officials can somehow get by on a combined travel budget of $17,260 a year.
Villalobos, Bolton and Placko did not respond to our reporter’s requests for comment. Gelin defended the new pot of local travel money and said it’s intended to cover gas and wear and tear on personal vehicles. But $15,000? That’s more than many Tamarac residents’ cars are worth.
We’re also troubled by the lack of transparency, which opens the door to taxpayer-funded junkets to Seminole Hard Rock or a Marlins game or partying in South Beach. That’s not a legitimate expense that should be charged to taxpayers.
This isn’t the first time that Tamarac’s arrogant disregard for taxpayers has raised red flags. Four years ago, the city gave each of its elected officials a personal kitty of $1,500 for miscellaneous expenses such as meals with constituents. The county inspector general opened an investigation in 2017 over — you guessed it — travel. And Bolton faced questions two years ago over his use of “discretionary” city funds. It doesn’t stop there.
The help wanted sign is out for the city to spend more tax money for “community engagement liaisons” to work for individual commissioners on “special projects … including but not limited to research, data analysis and data compilation” and to work with “various groups and individuals in connection with the elected officials.” These part-time jobs pay $20 an hour. No experience necessary.
Without adequate safeguards, this sounds suspiciously like spending tax money on political outreach and intelligence-gathering, which is not only unethical but illegal. But these engagement liaisons presumably are needed because, well, commissioners have to go out of town so much.
Misspending our money is out of control in Tamarac.
Congratulations to Mayor Gomez for voting against taking this tainted money. We expect she will not accept it since she didn’t vote for it. As for the Gang of Four, we call on them to rescind this ordinance as quickly as possible. If they won’t, we suggest the county inspector general show renewed interest in how Tamarac spends its tax dollars. “The city for your life” is out for your money.
Editorials are the opinion of the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and written by one of its members or a designee. The Editorial Board consists of Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney, Steve Bousquet and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson.