JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Donna Deegan said she is grateful to Jacksonville City Council members who voted to restore nearly $5 million for affordable housing as part of the city’s roughly $2 billion budget.
The amendment, proposed by Councilman Matt Carlucci, passed 12-7 during the council’s budget meeting Tuesday. Carlucci said the funding would help working-class residents, including teachers, nurses, newly hired firefighters and police officers, buy homes.
The affordable housing trust fund includes:
$2 million for down payment assistance
$1.4 million for capital stack funding, which combines different types of financing for major projects
$1.5 million for utility tap fees tied to attainable housing
“You saw people show up in droves to speak in favor of affordable housing,” Deegan said. “You saw that in committee, you saw that at my town hall meetings, and I was so grateful to the people on this council of all parties and affiliations who voted yes for that.”
Councilman Will Lahnen said the council has spent about $100 million on affordable housing over the past several years.
The council also discussed Amendment 3, a statewide property tax overhaul that will be on the November ballot. Councilman Ron Salem and Deegan said the proposal could have a catastrophic impact on Jacksonville, though further discussions will take place if it passes.
The city currently has about two months’ worth of reserves, officials said.
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