Seijas Plans Taxpayer Money Giveaway

MIAMI (CBS4) - Miami-Dade County Commissioner Natacha Seijas, who is facing a recall vote, wants to make sure her constituents know she's still on the job. So, on the day the recall vote goes forward, Seijas will give away nearly $250,000 in taxpayer funds to 11 local nonprofit groups and community programs, according to CBSMiami news partner the Miami Herald.

The funds will come from Seijas' office funds. Currently, Miami-Dade Commissioners are budgeted roughly $814,000 in office funds, according to the Herald. But, there are few rules on how the commissioners can spend money.

Plus, any money not spent in the previous year can be rolled over into the next budget year. According to the Herald, Seijas had $451,000 in unspent office funds last year which rolled into this budget year. That left her with a total of $1.26 million in 2010-2011.

Still, Seijas' move being set for the same day she faces a recall vote is leaving a bad taste in some commissioners' mouths. The Herald reported Commissioner Carlos Gimenez will try to pull the Seijas giveaway for discussion on Tuesday. Gimenez will try to force a debate on the issue before it's voted on.

According to the Herald, even after Seijas' $245,000 giveaway, she will still have roughly $130,000 in surplus funds at the end of the 2010-2011 budget year.

Seijas has been targeted for recall after she voted for Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez last year to increase the property-tax rate for some homeowners. The increase was needed to help pay for pay raises for many county employees this year.

Seijas and Alvarez will be on the same recall ballot on Tuesday.

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