Jacksonville’s general fund budget, which is more than $2 billion for the second straight year, was passed by the City Council Tuesday night by an 18-1 vote.
Despite initial expectations that the super-majority Republican City Council would chop up Democratic Mayor Donna Deegan’s fourth budget proposal, there were relatively few alterations to the plan.
The City Council removed nearly $23 million in proposed spending during the process. Most of that money went into the public safety contingency account for capital projects for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as well as the Fire and Rescue Department.
The budget itself was reduced by $13.83 million, with $6.22 million put in an Amendment 3 contingency account. That money would offset roughly 2% of the estimated $300 million hit Jacksonville’s government would take if more than 60% of voters approve the proposal to increase homestead exemptions to $250,000 by 2028.
Still, those changes brought some drama to budget night via an ultimately successful floor amendment looking to restore $4.9 million in affordable housing funding.
“This is a comeback, not a setback,” said Democrat Ju’Coby Pittman.
A Raul Arias amendment to use $237,427 from the Public Safety Contingency to pay membership dues for Florida Association of Counties ($110,915), Florida League of Cities ($72,488), National Association of Counties ($19,878), and National League of Cities ($34,146) made it into the final budget.
An amendment to move $2.45 million in grants to the Cultural Council above the line from the Amendment 3 contingency account failed, however, with Council members saying the money would be released if the amendment fails in November.
A “Council refresh” amendment to move $500,000 to remediate mold and other issues in offices, sponsored by Democrat Rahman Johnson, was pulled in light of what he called “alternative means” to get the work done.
Nibbling around the edges notwithstanding, the budget is, as it is most years, predominately public safety spending, with $1.074 billion allocated to police and fire.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will work with $674 million and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue with $400 million.
Other significant spending includes the following: $69 million for Public Works (including about $28 million for mowing and landscaping); $59 million for Parks, Recreation and Community Services; $57 million for Kids Hope Alliance and youth programs; $56 million for UF Health indigent care; and $46 million for Public Libraries.
Major capital spending includes these items: road resurfacing ($36 million); septic-tank phaseout ($25 million); Museum of Science and History ($27 million); Riverfront Plaza ($25 million).
Beyond the formal budget items, other spending was approved Tuesday.
A film project called “Project T” got $400,000 of funding.
And $25,000 was approved for a museum dedicated to the City Council and city government writ large, which will be housed in the St. James Building.