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In a decision that has garnered both applause and legal questions, the interim mayor of Hialeah, Jacqueline García-Roves, announced the granting of a Christmas bonus of $1,000 for municipal employees.
The measure, which will be implemented in December, will benefit around 1,492 workers, including part-time employees.
But who exactly will receive this bonus and what is the legal justification for it?
According to a memorandum issued by the mayor on November 18, the bonus will be granted "in recognition of the hard work, dedication, and commitment" of the city employees.
The bonus will apply to all municipal employees, including part-time workers.
However, the incentive excludes certain sectors:
-Elected officials.
-Employees of the council who work as contractors.
-Subcontracted cleaning and security personnel.
In total, the measure represents an expense of nearly 1.5 million dollars, as confirmed by García-Roves's office to El Nuevo Herald.
The funds, they claim, come from budgetary surpluses of the city.
An outgoing mayor in the midst of a transition
The measure comes amidst a context of political transition.
García-Roves, who lost the municipal elections on November 4 along with councilman Jesús Tundidor, will transfer power on January 12 to the newly elected mayor, Bryan Calvo.
The bonus was announced just two weeks after his defeat, at a time when the outgoing administration seems to be looking to make a final impression before handing over power.
It is worth remembering that during the campaign, García-Roves' administration proposed a $200 assistance payment for homeowners in the city, a measure that was rejected by the city council.
The failure of that proposal highlights the tension between the mayor's office and the local legislative body, which is also evident in the current controversy over the Christmas bonus.
Is the $1,000 bonus legal?
The announcement has sparked a legal debate regarding the mayor's authority to approve such a significant expense without the approval of the city council.
According to the former city attorney of Hialeah, William Grodnick, the measure is not legal under the current municipal charter.
“I should go to the council because the amount far exceeds $25,000,” Grodnick, who served as the city prosecutor from 1998 to 2014, stated to the cited media.
"It is doubly suspicious. Previously, Christmas bonuses were common or part of collective bargaining with the unions, and we suspended them for 25 years. And suddenly, they are reintroducing the Christmas bonus. Didn’t they negotiate with the unions or consult the council? It’s suspicious," he added.
The city's charter states that the mayor can only approve expenditures up to $25,000.
Any amount exceeding this must be approved by the city council. A legal opinion issued on October 7, 2025, by the current city attorney, Rafael Suárez-Rivas, supports this interpretation.
"The approval of the City Council is legally required for any expenditure that reasonably exceeds $25,000," Suárez-Rivas stated.
However, García-Roves's office argues that the regulation does not apply in this case, as the payments are made not to a supplier, but directly to the employees.
"Under our strong mayor system, council approval is not required for these payments," their office stated in response to the mentioned news outlet.
Grodnick outright rejected this justification.
"That’s a lie," he stated.
"Any expenditure of that nature in the city of Hialeah must be approved by the council... If it exceeds $25,000, it must be approved by the council. If a policy is modified that involves one and a half million dollars, it must be approved by the council," he reaffirmed.
Possible conflicts with state law
In addition to the debate over municipal authority, Grodnick warned that the measure could violate state regulations on public employee compensation in Florida.
"In the state of Florida, it is not permissible to grant a bonus without merit," he explained.
"The amount is so high that some employees could be receiving 20% or 30% of their salary. It's not just a small Christmas incentive; it seems like an enormous and illegal bonus, something that shouldn't be done," he stated.
The controversy is intensified by the fact that in previous administrations, bonuses were only granted as part of collective union agreements, and not unilaterally.
This is how former mayor Raúl Martínez recalled it, stating that during his administration, Christmas bonuses were not granted without union endorsement or council approval.
And what does the new mayor think?
The elected mayor, Bryan Calvo, was cautious yet firm in his response.
“Municipal employees are very hardworking and deserve this bonus, especially during the holidays. However, things must be done properly, and they should be noticeable, budgeted, and accounted for appropriately,” he stated in a statement sent to Herald.
What comes next?
The next municipal council meeting is scheduled for December 9, the same day that the second round of elections for two seats will also take place.
That session will be the last for García-Roves and Tundidor, who have resigned from their positions effective January 12 in order to compete in the elections.
If the Christmas bonus is implemented without the council's intervention, it will not only remain as a final gesture of the outgoing administration, but also as a potential legal controversy that could mark the beginning of Bryan Calvo's term.
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