JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 The Jacksonville City Council finance committee has stalled a vote that would send Duval County Schools\u2019 property tax renewal to November\u2019s ballot \u2014 and teachers, parents, and school district leaders are pushing back.<\/p>\n
The finance committee deferred the ordinance this week, delaying a decision on whether voters will get to weigh in on extending the 1-mill property tax that first passed in 2022. The school board voted 6-1 in March to send the renewal to city council.<\/p>\n
The measure needs council approval to appear on the November ballot.<\/p>\n
Some council members pointed to the proposed statewide property tax cut from state lawmakers in Tallahassee as a reason for the delay. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan addressed the holdup at a news conference Thursday, saying she does not believe the council has grounds to stall.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe role of the council, in what I\u2019ve been told, is to simply be in a ministerial and managerial role \u2014 just making that request happen,\u201d Deegan said. \u201cSo I don\u2019t think council has a role here beyond saying \u2018this is what you want, we\u2019ll put it on the ballot.\u2019 I don\u2019t really understand the debate.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 1-mill tax will generate about $121 million a year and will fund teacher and employee pay, arts programs, and athletics. It is not a tax increase \u2014 it would maintain the current rate. For a home valued at $300,000, the tax amounts to about $300 a year.<\/p>\n
John Meeks, a teacher and first vice president of Duval Teachers United, said the delay puts educators\u2019 livelihoods in jeopardy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the only result of these delays could be the endangerment of our teachers\u2019 well-being,\u201d Meeks said. \u201cThere\u2019s no increase. It\u2019s just a keeping of the status quo, which has allowed our school system to have the A grade that it has today. I don\u2019t think we can afford to go backwards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tiffany Clark, a parent and advocate with Parents Who Lead, said the holdup is pulling focus away from what matters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is getting tied up in a way that it shouldn\u2019t,\u201d Clark said. \u201cThis is only about teachers and that\u2019s it, and that is where the focus needs to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico acknowledged the deferral but said he expects the full council to vote on the measure as soon as Tuesday, after the bill is discharged from the finance committee to the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI anticipate that\u2019s what\u2019s going to happen,\u201d Carrico said. \u201cThen the full body can vote on this referendum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carrico pushed back on the idea that the delay signals the measure is in trouble.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s a cause for concern about the stall. I think people are reading into it a little bit too much,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure whether I vote for it or not, it goes to the ballot for the people to decide.\u201d<\/p>\n
Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said the district is working to understand what the deferral means and how to move forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the next several days, we will consult with council and our attorneys to understand what this deferral means procedurally and how to determine a path for success moving forward,\u201d Bernier said at the June school board meeting. \u201cWe\u2019ll continue to work on behalf of our teachers, school police, and other staff \u2014 all who rely on the millage to make ends meet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two city council members are hosting separate public meetings to discuss the referendum on Friday. Councilman Raul Arias will hold a meeting at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall in the Don Davis Room. Councilman Matt Carlucci\u2019s meeting is set for 1 p.m. at City Hall in council chambers.<\/p>\n
Voters would have the final say on the renewal if the measure reaches the November ballot.<\/p>\n
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