Mayor Curry rolls out budget, announces priorities
Saying the past year was one with many challenges for the people of Jacksonville, Mayor Lenny Curry has presented a $1.4 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year to the City Council.
The spending plan includes pay raises and bonuses of about $2500 for city employees. “I want to personally thank the city employees when in the midst of a global pandemic and so much uncertainty didn’t even blink an eye,” Curry said. “Instead they showed up for the citizens of Jacksonville day after day.”
The $495 million Capital Improvement Plan for next year has an ambitious plan to address many longtime infrastructure needs.It includes $24 million for road resurfacing, double the previous annual commitment. A $50 million dollar investment in parks, pools, libraries and other enhancements with another $50 budgeted for next year. The CIP also includes a $54 million commitment for drainage and resilience projects. That’s a five fold increase from last year.
Curry says there is also $50 million earmarked to phase out septic tanks in neighborhoods that had been promised the improvements for decades. “It’s time the city lives up to its promises and to begin rebuilding trust in our community and this is a first step toward that goal,” he said.
Phasing out the septic tanks is a priority for City Council President Sam Newby. He said he was very pleased to hear Mayor Curry will be investing greatly in neighborhood improvements. “The city is definitely going to move forward in the right direction,” Newby said.
After several difficult years things should be a lot easier for the Council Finance Committee when it begins its budget hearings August 12.
Along with increased revenue from a hike in property values, the city will see additional funding from the federal government in COVID relief money and the Jobs for Jax legislation that doubled the local gas tax.
Group 2 At-large City Councilman Ron Salem said it’s a good year to be the Finance Chair. He said there will be no consideration of a millage hike or increase in city fees in the budget.
“I don’t see a need for that. I think that we have hit our citizens between the pension tax, the school sales tax over the last five or six years. I think the citizens have stepped up and I don’t see a need to do any more than that,” he said.
Curry spent a large part of his June 20 address to the Council to urge local residents to remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19 and it’s recent variant. There has been a surge of recent cases in Duval County hospitals that have strained emergency services. Curry urged all residents to get vaccinated.
The Mayor’s office has also submitted legislation for the proposed $120 million athletic complex for the Jaguars. The city would fund $60 million with any cost overruns picked up by the team.
The project, which is being called the first phase of a major stadium renovation, would include an indoor playing field and 127,087 square foot building for team offices, training and meeting rooms.
The City Council must approve the budget by October 1st.
By Kevin J. Meerschaert
Resident Community News
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