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Message from the State Attorney

Photo: Katherine Fernandez Rundle Headshot 2

Katherine Fernandez Rundle
State Attorney

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Dear Friend,

As you know, I have spent many years advocating for additional funding to pay my employees a salary closer to the livable wages they need and deserve and to enhance our efforts to hire and retain great people like those on my team.

During the past legislative session, I and our Leadership Team reached out to and obtained the support of many public and private entities. Briefly, this included several municipal councils, commissions, business groups, the Miami-Dade County Chiefs of Police (MDCACP), State of Florida Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), South Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA), and eight (8) non-profit organizations serving our community, particularly victims’ advocates.

I personally met with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, Speaker Pro Tempore Bryan Avila, the Attorney General and the Lt. Governor, and I visited many other lawmakers in Tallahassee. I testified before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee composed of numerous legislators, Democrats and Republicans alike. I made sure they understood how hard my team works and how underpaid they are. I proved to them, through various financial reports, that Miami had become one of the most expensive places in the world and the least affordable housing market in the United States, which is why again, I demonstrated the need for my office to receive an additional Cost Area Differential. I will not give up on this fairness issue and will fight for it again next session.

As you probably know, the Florida Legislature heard our message and appropriated historic increases in salaries for our prosecutors and staff. For that, I am grateful.

I hope these raises will help them realize their dreams and enable them to continue working with us; work that is rewarding in so many other ways. I also hope the additional funding will allow us to make their professional lives a bit easier by allowing us to hire and retain more great people.

Our lawmakers also agreed that the State would continue to pay our Florida Bar dues and fees for continuing legal education courses for state workers whose jobs are contingent on being a member of the Bar.

I want to thank each and every one of you who supported our efforts. You called and wrote to your legislators and used your voice to spread the word in the community. I also want to thank my fellow State Attorneys and our Public Defender, Carlos J. Martinez, as well as members of the media, for joining our cries for help and keeping this issue front and center. Thankfully, our united voices and actions made a difference.

Once again, thank you for your ongoing support, partnership, commitment and sacrifice in our efforts and service to keep our community safe.
Stay safe, healthy, and strong.

Sincerely,

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