Broward County Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes has come under fire for the numerous incidents of voter fraud and the lengthy recount process earlier this month. She finally decided to resign from her post after facing severe criticism. Now, it's coming to light that she will be receiving $11,000 a month in a pension. That equates to roughly $130,000 a year. Snipes was previously making $178,865 a year as Broward's Election Supervisor, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
Part of the reason her pension is so high is because of her time in government. She already receives $4,880 a month for her combined time as a teacher and school administrator. Snipes has received that part of her pension, in combination with her salary as Elections Supervisor, since she was appointed to the post by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2003. She won re-election to the post four different times since her appointment.
The Sun-Sentinel calculated Snipes' pension based on public salary information and Florida's retirement rules.
"Snipes, 75, stands to add another $5,909 a month for her 15 years as supervisor, roughly $71,000 a year," The Sun-Sentinel reported. "State officials said they could not provide information on Snipes’ new pension because they had not calculated it and would not do so until requested by Snipes."
According to Dominic Calabro, president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, while Snipes is entitled to the pension, Floridians are resentful because pensions aren't common for people in the private sector.
“It really raises the question, on top of everything else, why she’s being excessively compensated for doing a poor job. That’s the added insult to injury,” Calabro said. “It just leaves additional salt in the wound."
Calabro also said Snipes is expected to benefit from the the annual cost-of-living increase, which is about 2 to 3 percent each year.
Florida TaxWatch has pushed the state legislature to place a limitation on pensions. If the legislature fails to make the move, Calabro said he anticipates petitioners starting ballot initiative to amend the state constitution.
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