Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez will host another town hall meeting to discuss budget cuts Thursday night, following a Tuesday meeting where residents expressed anger over proposed cuts.
Thursday's meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Palmetto Bay Commission Chambers at 9705 E. Hibiscus Street. Residents will be able to ask Gimenez and his staff about the 2013-2014 budget.
The most pressing budget issues are the $15 million budget gap for the county's 2,000 firefighters, and a $20 million shortfall for the county's libraries.
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At Tuesday's meeting at North Dade Regional Library, residents railed against the mayor's proposed cuts.
Gimenez responded that he's made progress by cutting only three fire units rather than the original six and 75 staffers instead of 149.
The most voiced topic was cutting libraries, which Gimenez said he's made concessions on by cutting only 14 rather than 22. He also said they're trying to think outside the box when it comes to the library services.
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"We're doing innovative things to try to open as many libraries as possible. We're asking for the volunteers’ help – can you come and help staff more of these libraries."
Gimenez is hosting four more Town hall meetings this month to discuss the budget. They are:
Date: Thursday, August 15, 2013
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: City of Aventura Commission Chambers, 19200 West Country Club Drive, Aventura, FL 33180
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Florida City, City Hall, 404 West Palm Drive, Florida City, FL 33034
Date: Thursday, August 22, 2013
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: West Dade Regional Library, 9445 Coral Way, Miami, FL 33165
Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Little Haiti Cultural Center, 212 NE 59 Terrace, Miami, FL 33137
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Photo Credit: NBC 6 South Florida