JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters Local 122 and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5-30 released a joint statement on Friday opposing the proposed millage rate reduction.
Combined, the unions represent nearly 4,300 firefighters, paramedics, police officers and correctional officers in Jacksonville.
The unions said the proposed 1/8 millage rate reduction will negatively impact the city’s ability to address public safety efforts down the line.
They also said they are trying to prevent first responders from leaving the city for better pay and benefits elsewhere.
Read the full statement below.
Mayor Donna Deegan released a statement thanking the unions for opposing it.
“I’m grateful to our Jacksonville fire and police unions for having the courage to speak out. They’re right. We’ve seen this movie before and we don’t want to see it again,” Deegan said.
At a meeting inside City Hall on Wednesday afternoon, Councilman Jimmy Peluso voiced his opposition to the proposed millage rate reduction. Peluso argued that it could lead to a significant shortfall in funding for road maintenance projects.
“In five years, based on projected growth, we’re going to lose $76 million and that money could go into the neighborhoods of our constituents, and we should be having that conversation,” Peluso said. “Some of these roads are a year or two away from getting worked on. That’s just unacceptable to me.”
Deegan is hosting town halls through September about the city’s budget.
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