Last June I started asking for documents that would shed some light on the proposed new pensions for the members of the Miami City Commission and the Mayor.

Try as I might, Budget Director Christopher Rose refused to give them up, because he rightfully understood there would be some real anger if the citizens saw these documents before the Commissioners had an opportunity to vote themselves these new pensions.

Unfortunately for all of them, they were forced to reschedule the July vote until the commission meeting this Thursday, and therefore facing a lawsuit from me if they didn't turn over the information, I finally got my hands on the documents.

Here is the complete list of elected officials who currently, and will in the future receive pensions if the Commissioners approve this deal on Thursday.

Copyrighted:  2011,2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

As you can see, the biggest beneficaries of these new pensions would be Mayor Francis Suarez who goes from a -0- pension to $102,780 a year, and Commissioner Carollo, whose pension would go from $15,840 to $100,704 a year.

The proposed ordinance also provides an opportunity for all of the newly vested elected officials not only to benefit from a 5% bump for every year they serve above the minimum 6 years - it used to be 7 years, but it was reduced to 6 years so that Commissioner Hardemon could benefit since his run for county commissioner next year means that he won't be around to complete a 7th year - now required to qualify for a pension, but also allows those who were in office prior to October 2018 to add to their pensions by purchasing  benefits for those years for approximately $10,000 a year.

Try getting a company in the private sector to let you do that.

Below is a copy of the report from the consulting company, Cowden, that spells out the payment options.