Politician Kathleen Smith Exploits Pension System for Nearly $1Million

Pension Cash Bonuses for politician Kathleen A. Smith

While Politician Million Dollar Kathleen Smith takes bushels of taxpayer money,the average Lee County worker earns $45,487 a year or $22 an hour and would need to work over 21 years to match Politician Public Defender Kathleen Smith’s pension cash bonus of $966,038.

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In a shocking taxpayer money grab, political greed unfolds in SW Florida. Republican Politician Public Defender Kathleen A. Smith decided her $547,272 Pension cash bonus and $202,562 salary[1] was not enough money and shamelessly exploited her Political position to pocket an outrageous $966,038 in taxpayer-funded pension bonus. This display of gluttony sets a new low for political personal enrichment, particularly for a Politician charged with the task of “Public Defender”

[1] http://edr.state.fl.us/content/local-government/reports/finsal23.pdf

“Sneaky Politician Kathleen Smith is greedy. How many gourmet meals, luxury cars, and vacation homes does one person need or can even use?” asked Dave Jaye, a researcher at www.tripledippers.org, ”How much, if any of Kathleen Smith’s $966,038 pension cash bonus will she promise in writing to donate to charity?”

USAtaxfighters.org is formally asking candidates running for office in 2024 to sign a Pledge not to take a pension cash bonus (attached). Politicians seeking election in 2024 include the Tax Property Appraiser, Property Tax Collector, Sheriff, Clerk, Supervisor of election, School Superintendent and some County Commissioners and School Board members. The filing deadline for County Political office is between June 10 and June 14, 2024[1]. Unfortunately, Politician Public Defender Kathleen A. Smith doesn’t face the voters until 2026.

Kathleen Smith represents Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry & Lee Counties[2] takes a $202,562 salary, approximately $85,024 in annual benefits and doesn’t contribute the standard 3% of her salary ($6,376) to the Florida Pension program, like all other Florida public employees shifting her personal responsibility to taxpayers. Public Defender Politicians are charged to use taxpayer money to defend poor people accused of crimes.

Republican Public Defender Kathleen Smith’s original pension cash bonus of $641,435 scheduled for payment on July 31, 2025, proved inadequate for her insatiable appetite. Demonstrating cunning maneuvering, Kathleen Smith submitted paperwork breaking an earlier contract promise to resign on July 31, 2025. This move allowed her to pursue an additional three years of pension bonus time, elevating her Pension Bonus total to an indefensible $966,038, with a monthly taxpayer-funded pension soaring from approximately $5,417 to $9,563.

Politician Kathleen Smith is the inaugural Lee and Collier County inductee on a recently launched Hall of Shame website dedicated to exposing greedy Florida politicians. These Greedy Politicians used their office to enrich themselves by maneuvering for an extended pension bonus of 8 years instead of being satisfied with the originally allotted 5 years. Additionally, they are currently campaigning for reelection in 2024. Stay updated on this unfolding story at https://tripledippers.org/triple-dippers-hall-of-shame/.

While Politician Million Dollar Kathleen Smith takes bushels of taxpayer money,the average Lee County worker earns $45,487 a year or $22 an hour and would need to work over 21 years[1] to match Politician Public Defender Kathleen Smith’s pension cash bonus of $966,038.

As the Elected Public Defender representing poor people accused of crimes, Kathleen Smith knows that 1 in 3 people incarcerated in Florida reads below a sixth grade level and 2 in 3 lack a high school diploma or GED[2]. Kathleen Smith’s staggering $966,038 pension cash bonus could fund 53,049 tutor hours[3] for students enhancing job and college readiness. 69% of Lee County middle school students failed basic reading tests, and 80% failed basic math tests and only 15.3% are college ready while 77.2% get what is often viewed as a worthless High School Diploma[4].

Governor Jim DeSantis signed SB 7024 effective July 1, 2023 allowing the option for politicians and bureaucrats to extend pension bonuses by 60% from 5 to 8 years and up to ten years for School Employees[5]. The Triple Dipper Pension Bonus system created $39 billion in unfunded Florida Retirement obligations, amounting to a $1,725 liability for every man, woman, and child in Florida.

For a comprehensive list of the names, employers and pension cash bonuses of approximately 26,000 Florida’s Triple Dippers click here.

Stay tuned to see More Greedy Politicians exposed in the Triple Dippers Hall of Shame.

Governor Jim DeSantis signed SB 7024 effective July 1, 2023 allowing politicians and bureaucrats to extend pension bonuses by 60% from 5 to 8 years and up to 10 years for School Employees and increasing the pension bonus interest rate from 1.2 to 4% and allowing many to collect pension bonuses earlier[1]. The Triple Dipper Pension Bonus system has created $39 billion in unfunded Florida Retirement obligations, amounting to a $1,725 liability for every man, woman, and child in Florida. [SOURCE]