By Juan Montoya
Each year, the city of Brownsville pays $85,525 in car allowances to 20 city officials and staff members despite the fact that except for seven of them, all work in departments or hold offices that also have city vehicles at their disposal.
In fact, of the 20 city officials and employees receiving car allowances, only seven work in departments where cars have not been provided. The city has 636 vehicles in its rolling stock inventory, but most of these are with the police, fire department, and street and Public Works.
Four city commissioners each receive $332.08 a month, or $3,876.96 annually in car allowance for a yearly total (times 4) of $15,507.84. City commissioners, or those other city staff who receive the allowance, are not required to keep logs of their mileage or destinations.
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The four city commissioners receiving car allowances are Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa, Ricardo Longoria Jr., Joel Munguia and Ben Neece. The commissioners are not provided with city vehicles.
And while some use the allowance for their travel, Neece said he has used his to benefit three social service organizations in equal parts. They are the Ozanam Homeless Center, Friendship of Women, and Casa Carlotta Petrina.
The other three who receive a car allowance but whose departments are not provided with a city vehicle are:
1. Asst. City Attorney Allison Bastian, $323.08 a month, $3,876 annually. Her salary is listed at 72,275.84.
2. Grant Writer Marina Zolezzi, $72,099.87 salary, $276.92 a month, $3,323.04 annually.
3. Public Health Administrator Arturo Rodriguez, $89,562.72 salary, $323.08 monthly, $3,876.32 annually
(It is difficult to figure just how much these individuals travel daily in the course of performing their city duties, but anecdotal evidence indicates that many rarely leave their offices during the day.)
With the availability of city vehicles to do the municipal duties, the car allowance for the majority of those receiving in effect is money from local taxpayers to drive their cars to and from work. For most of the time, cars allotted to their departments remain parked in the city's parking structure at City Plaza. (See graphic at right.)
Below are the city staff receiving car allowances, the number of vehicles available to their department, and the car allowance totals for the month and the year.
These are:
City Manager's Office (3) : A 2013 Ford Fusion is assigned to the department. City staff indicate that neither Gonzalez nor Lopez travel outside the office very much. Cabler uses his private vehicle.
Charlie Cabler, $220,000 salary, $553.84 monthly car allowance, $6,646 annually.
Pete Gonzalez, $143,221.31 salary, $461.54 monthly, $5,538 annually, .
Michael Lopez, $128,400.06 salary, $461.54 monthly, $5,538 annually.
Total Car Allowance for City Manager's Office: $17,723.04
Municipal Court (1): Four 2008 Crown Victorias and a 2001 Ford Prisoner van
Judge Robert Lerma, 109,634.93 annual salary $184.62 monthly, $2,215.44 annually
Finance (1): One 2004 Ford Explorer
Lupe Granado, $86,141.33 annual salary$276.92 monthly, $3,323.04 annually
Purchasing(1): One 2017 Dodge Ram 1500
Roberto Luna, $70,868.72 annual salary, $323.08 monthly, $3,323.04 annually,
Human Resources(1): One 2005 Ford Taurus
Oscar Salinas, $86,141.33 annual salary $276.92 monthly, $3,323.04 annually
Public Works Adm.(1): Five; a 2015 Chevy PU, a 2013 Ford Fusion, a 2004 Ford F150, a 2000 Ford F150, and a 1999 Chevy PU
Santana Torres, $78,785.41 annual salary, $461,54 monthly, $5,538.48 annually
Parks Administration(1): One 2008 Chevy Trailblazer
Nicole Damaris McGlone, $74,412.21 annual salary, $369.24 monthly, $4,430.88 annually
Parking Operations(1): Three; a 2009 Ford Escape, a 2001 Ford cargo van, and a 2001 F150 PU
Robert Esparza, $72,627.36 salary, $369.24 monthly, $4,430.88 annually
General Planning(1): One 2015 Chevy Silverado
Constanza Miner, $89,999.94 annual salary, $461.54 monthly, $5,538.48 annually
Building Inspection(1): 11 Fords or Chevy vehicles ranging from a 2004 F150 to a 2016 Chevy Silverado
Evaristo Gamez, $70,868.72, annual salary, $230.76 monthly, $2,769 annually
Total: 34 city vehicles available in the departments where the 12 city staff receive car allowances.
Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation: (Why the city pays car allowance to a separate corporation funded by a percentage of the sales taxes is not explained.)
Rebecca Castillo, $84,999.82 salary, $230.78 monthly, $2,769.36 annually.
Some city commissioners say that the 2017-2018 budget process is too far along to address the car allowance issue. However, the newly-established commissioners' audit and budget committees have items on the budget like the car allowances in their sights and will surely revisit them in upcoming budget years.)
Each year, the city of Brownsville pays $85,525 in car allowances to 20 city officials and staff members despite the fact that except for seven of them, all work in departments or hold offices that also have city vehicles at their disposal.
In fact, of the 20 city officials and employees receiving car allowances, only seven work in departments where cars have not been provided. The city has 636 vehicles in its rolling stock inventory, but most of these are with the police, fire department, and street and Public Works.
Four city commissioners each receive $332.08 a month, or $3,876.96 annually in car allowance for a yearly total (times 4) of $15,507.84. City commissioners, or those other city staff who receive the allowance, are not required to keep logs of their mileage or destinations.
The four city commissioners receiving car allowances are Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa, Ricardo Longoria Jr., Joel Munguia and Ben Neece. The commissioners are not provided with city vehicles.And while some use the allowance for their travel, Neece said he has used his to benefit three social service organizations in equal parts. They are the Ozanam Homeless Center, Friendship of Women, and Casa Carlotta Petrina.
The other three who receive a car allowance but whose departments are not provided with a city vehicle are:
1. Asst. City Attorney Allison Bastian, $323.08 a month, $3,876 annually. Her salary is listed at 72,275.84.
2. Grant Writer Marina Zolezzi, $72,099.87 salary, $276.92 a month, $3,323.04 annually.
3. Public Health Administrator Arturo Rodriguez, $89,562.72 salary, $323.08 monthly, $3,876.32 annually
(It is difficult to figure just how much these individuals travel daily in the course of performing their city duties, but anecdotal evidence indicates that many rarely leave their offices during the day.)
With the availability of city vehicles to do the municipal duties, the car allowance for the majority of those receiving in effect is money from local taxpayers to drive their cars to and from work. For most of the time, cars allotted to their departments remain parked in the city's parking structure at City Plaza. (See graphic at right.)
Below are the city staff receiving car allowances, the number of vehicles available to their department, and the car allowance totals for the month and the year.
These are:
City Manager's Office (3) : A 2013 Ford Fusion is assigned to the department. City staff indicate that neither Gonzalez nor Lopez travel outside the office very much. Cabler uses his private vehicle.
Charlie Cabler, $220,000 salary, $553.84 monthly car allowance, $6,646 annually.
Pete Gonzalez, $143,221.31 salary, $461.54 monthly, $5,538 annually, .
Michael Lopez, $128,400.06 salary, $461.54 monthly, $5,538 annually.
Total Car Allowance for City Manager's Office: $17,723.04
Municipal Court (1): Four 2008 Crown Victorias and a 2001 Ford Prisoner van
Judge Robert Lerma, 109,634.93 annual salary $184.62 monthly, $2,215.44 annually
Finance (1): One 2004 Ford Explorer
Lupe Granado, $86,141.33 annual salary$276.92 monthly, $3,323.04 annually
Purchasing(1): One 2017 Dodge Ram 1500
Roberto Luna, $70,868.72 annual salary, $323.08 monthly, $3,323.04 annually,
Human Resources(1): One 2005 Ford Taurus
Oscar Salinas, $86,141.33 annual salary $276.92 monthly, $3,323.04 annually
Public Works Adm.(1): Five; a 2015 Chevy PU, a 2013 Ford Fusion, a 2004 Ford F150, a 2000 Ford F150, and a 1999 Chevy PU
Santana Torres, $78,785.41 annual salary, $461,54 monthly, $5,538.48 annually
Parks Administration(1): One 2008 Chevy Trailblazer
Nicole Damaris McGlone, $74,412.21 annual salary, $369.24 monthly, $4,430.88 annually
Parking Operations(1): Three; a 2009 Ford Escape, a 2001 Ford cargo van, and a 2001 F150 PU
Robert Esparza, $72,627.36 salary, $369.24 monthly, $4,430.88 annually
General Planning(1): One 2015 Chevy Silverado
Constanza Miner, $89,999.94 annual salary, $461.54 monthly, $5,538.48 annually
Building Inspection(1): 11 Fords or Chevy vehicles ranging from a 2004 F150 to a 2016 Chevy Silverado
Evaristo Gamez, $70,868.72, annual salary, $230.76 monthly, $2,769 annually
Total: 34 city vehicles available in the departments where the 12 city staff receive car allowances.
Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation: (Why the city pays car allowance to a separate corporation funded by a percentage of the sales taxes is not explained.)
Rebecca Castillo, $84,999.82 salary, $230.78 monthly, $2,769.36 annually.
Some city commissioners say that the 2017-2018 budget process is too far along to address the car allowance issue. However, the newly-established commissioners' audit and budget committees have items on the budget like the car allowances in their sights and will surely revisit them in upcoming budget years.)