Commissioners Julie Fishman and Michelle Gomez and Vice Mayor Debra Placko at the Labor Ball at the Hollywood Diplomat Hotel. This event cost taxpayers $630 for the three to attend.
By: Sharon Aron Baron
After discovering that taxpayers were footing the bill for dinners and galas for the Tamarac city commissioners, we made a public records request to the city clerk to find out how much they were spending on their annual expense accounts.
After 30 days and a $58 check to the city, we got the answers.
But first, here’s some background on the commission’s expense accounts: Through the city charter, the mayor and each of the four commissioners are allowed a discretionary expense account for what is deemed “actual and necessary expenses,” which meets the definition of a public purpose.
This amount is $1,500 per person each year. This can be used for breakfast, lunch and dinners, functions, events, clothing with city logos, office supplies, membership dues, subscriptions, and parking. Totaled up, this is $7,500 annually of budgeted money. That is if they stay within their budget.
The way Mayor Dressler skirted around this restrictive $1,500 budget was to take a $14,000 two-week class at Harvard Kennedy School in August and a trip in 2016 for $12,400 .
This was due to a rule change in 1998.
No longer would commission conferences and educational seminars costs be a part of their expense account but would be used from the city’s general expense funds.
The definition is clear on what elected officials can spend money on: “actual and necessary expenses.” which seems too broad for many elected officials in Tamarac.
This means that these are to be used for expensive tickets to events around the county and not in their own district.
No one wants to deny our elected officials the opportunity to attend dinner parties and galas. However, they can do this at any time on their dime, which would show that they genuinely cared about the foundation. Many other commissioners in Broward County must pay for their tickets, and the City of Tamarac should be no exception.
Already, the city is under intense scrutiny for its excessive travel budgets due to a piece in the Sun-Sentinel that has caught the eye of the Broward Office of the Inspector General, who has asked the city for copies of all the travel requests and itineraries for each city commissioner.
Here is an example of some of these events where tickets were purchased for all commissioners:
Broward County Mayor’s Gala ($2,000), Broward League of Cities Gold Coast Breakfast ($60), Edith Lederberg 40th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon – Area Wide Council on Aging ($100), Broward League Luncheon ($840), Broward League of Cities Gala ($2,500), Protect the Children Gala ($796.20), ADRC Breakfast and Awards ($500). Total $6,796.20.
Commissioner Julie Fishman $2,199.24 ($699.24 over)
Commissioner Michelle Gomez $2,099.24 ($599.24 over)
Vice Mayor Debra Placko $1,943.93 ($443.93 over)
Mayor Harry Dressler $1,909.79 ($409.79 over) + not including the trip to the Harvard Kennedy Center.
Commissioner Marlon Bolton $1,639.00 ($139.00 over)
Remember, the city charter only allows $1,500 in annual expenses, and all five elected officials have exceeded their limits.
Sadly, the commissioner who went the highest over budget, Julie Fishman, is the one who represents the constituents who know how to live on a fixed budget the best: the retirees in Kings Point who primarily live on social security and savings.
Typically, when a retiree spends more than what comes in, they have to give up something essential, whether it’s food, medicine, or entertainment. Not in Tamarac, where commissioners can spend above their limit.
The mayor’s overage also includes $500 worth of meals at Wings Plus ($90.31), Tavolino Della Nonna ($99.87), and Metro Diner a couple of times, bringing his expenditures up to $1,943 – well over budget allowed by the charter.
Did the mayor get approval to go over this amount?
Vice Mayor Placko’s includes $214.69 for meals and Colony West and Metro Diner. Who are these constituents that are getting free meals? Invite them to your taxpayer-paid office at city hall, or meet for coffee instead.
For a city of 65,000 and a median income of $43,250, our city pays its city manager and elected officials well. Too well, including that $700 monthly car allowance.
For elected officials to think nothing of spending over $2,000 to attend an event far removed from their district, knowing their constituents are footing the bill demonstrates that they are genuinely no longer public servants residents voted for.
Residents must decide whether they act in their best interests and should be replaced come election time.
