‘Big Beautiful Amendments’ defeated
It was an evening of contention and compromise at the Sept. 23 City Council meeting, but, after more than 13 hours in session, Council approved a $13.4 million property tax cut and the largest budget in the City’s history at approximately $2 billion.
The City Council approved the City’s 2025/26 budget by a vote of 15-2, with two abstentions. The budget includes a 1/8th millage rate reduction that will reportedly bring $13.4 million back to taxpayers in the next year and nearly $70 million over the next five years, City Council President Kevin Carrico said in a statement.
“Tonight is a big win for taxpayers,” said Carrico, who made the tax cut a priority of his term. “Taxpayers demand responsibility from City Hall and tonight we delivered.”
While a 15-2 vote may sound convincing, it wasn’t an easy delivery.
City Council Member and Floor Leader, Will Lahnen, played a pivotal role in breaking a stalemate within the council that had the body debating the budget well into the morning after a 3 p.m. start on Tuesday. The Council was divided over both the property tax cut and Council Member Rory Diamond’s floor amendment that would add prohibitions for the City funding DEI initiatives, programs that provide services to illegal immigrants, and abortion services.
Diamond explained to the Council that he had gotten approval from the City’s Office of General Council to file the amendments with the budget as prohibitions on spending. Those opposing the Diamond Amendment stated the budget wasn’t the place from which to legislate.
“I flatly don’t believe it belongs where it is,” said Council Member Ken Amaro.
Some members felt strongly enough about removing the Diamond Amendment that, after their efforts failed to defeat it at the previous Sept. 9 council meeting, Council Members Reggie Gaffney, Jr., Rahman Johnson, Ju’Coby Pittman and Jimmy Peluso, walked out of the meeting. They eventually returned, but the move made it difficult for the Council to conduct business, missing that many members.
To address possible disruption of the next meeting, Carrico held a public meeting to discuss Council rules at noon on Sept. 23. He explained that the Council is charged with passing a budget by Oct. 1, and further disruptions could result in fines and jail time per the City’s Charter (Sec. 601.301. – Obstruction of proceedings before City agencies). “Obstruction of Proceedings” is considered a Class D offense and is punishable by a maximum penalty of up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail.
Though the Diamond Amendment was added to the budget with a 10-9 vote, the two abstentions by Council Member Mike Gay and Terrance Freeman prevented the budget from passing with it. While the City Charter allowed them to vote on the amendments, both council members abstained from voting on the bill to avoid any conflict of influence since both of their companies conduct business with the City. Both Gay and Freeman were in favor of the property tax cut.
The Council went through rounds of debate, votes and reconsiderations until it found itself at 3 a.m. on Wednesday still trying to approve the budget. After a short recess, Lahnen, as floor leader, tried to coax some compromise out of the legislative body.
“We have to pass a budget,” said Lahnen. “As floor leader, I’ve tried to promote discussion, but I don’t see an opportunity for compromise with [the Diamond Amendment] in there.”
The City Council President appoints a Council Member to be floor leader who serves a six-month term and may be reappointed. The floor leader aids the presiding officer in expediting the business of Council during meetings.
“I think I’ve supported every piece of your legislation. I’ve voted on (the Diamond Amendments) multiple times. A part of me feels like we are doomed by fate with some of the conflicts,” said Lahnen, addressing Diamond. “We have to pass a budget, and I will be voting ‘no’ on the Diamond Amendment the next time it comes up and, again, I am doing that so we can pass our budget tonight.”
Council Member Chris Miller commended Lahnen for his actions to advance the budget.
“I know that was a tough thing for Councilman Lahnen to do with the way he has voted previously,” said Miller. “This is a conviction thing for me as well in those areas. I applaud him for what he has done to help us move forward.”
By offering up his vote to remove the Amendment from the budget, Lahnen asked the body if it was enough to get the budget passed.
“This could be cut and dry if it were just about finances, but it’s not about finances, it’s about people,” said Council Member Tyrona Clark-Murray. “Could one of us who said no, could we move this bill if all of that language was not in there? Absolutely.”
The Diamond Amendment was removed from the budget by a vote of 10-9, with Lahnen as the deciding vote. This was followed by the 15-2 vote that ultimately passed the budget.
“August and September were tough on this city council,” said City Council Vice Chair Nick Howland. “Everyone on this council wants to see our city succeed, see our city grow and see investment across all of our neighborhoods. Let’s shake off August and September and be a team again in October.”
Mayor Donna Deegan shared Howland’s sentiment and was ready to get to work on the new fiscal year.
“While I’m disappointed by the millage rate vote, especially given the strong sentiments from the public, the city council has fulfilled their primary responsibility to pass a budget,” said Deegan. “I respect their decision and their work.”
Floor Amendments
Several council members introduced floor amendments during the marathon council session, requesting funding for specific initiatives and programs impacting healthcare, housing, infrastructure and more.
The Michael Boylan Amendment requested about $730,000 for the JaxCare Connect program, which connects patients without insurance to primary care providers for ongoing care. Agape Community Health Center, WestJax Outreach, Muslim American Social Services, Mission House, I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless and Volunteers in Medicine will receive funding from the Budget Stabilization Contingency Fund.
The Pittman Amendment requested $1,910 for the Sister Cities program and was approved from the Sister Cities Designated Contingency Fund.
Council Member Randy White withdrew his amendment requesting just over $13 million to be placed in a Public Safety Designated Contingency Account after the council promised its commitment to work with him to address any concerns Police and Fire may have about the new property tax cut.
The Matt Carlucci Amendment requested $900,000 from the Budget Stabilization Contingency account to Neighborhoods for Local Stack Funding for Attainable Housing and received approval.
The Peluso Amendments requesting $20 million for roadway resurfacing and $5 million for new sidewalk construction from operating reserves were denied due to timing and the funding source, however Council Member Joe Carlucci expressed interest in helping Peluso find funding later.
The Rahman Johnson Amendments proposed $1 million in spending for the Jacksonville Urban League Community Empowerment Center project and $250,000 on materials for the Jacksonville Public Library, but the council denied both. The Urban League Community Empowerment Center will be revisited as Freeman expressed interest in finding funds for the project.
The budget is currently awaiting the mayor’s signature. It will go into effect Oct. 1.
