Hundreds showed up to take part in the Jacksonville City Council property tax and budget meeting
A large crowd turned out for the Jacksonville City Council meeting about the property tax rate and budget Tuesday September 23, 2025 at the Jacksonville City Hall in Jacksonville, Fla.
- The Jacksonville City Council approved the 2025-26 budget after a marathon meeting lasting over 14 hours.
- A controversial amendment restricting funds for abortions, undocumented residents, and DEI programs initially passed but was later removed.
- The amendment was stripped to break a deadlock and secure the necessary votes to pass the overall budget.
- The final $2 billion budget was approved in a 15-2 vote, concluding the meeting at 4:25 a.m.
Clocking in at 14 hours and 25 minutes, the Jacksonville City Council meeting that approved the 2025-26 budget on a 15-2 vote was one for the books.
The marathon meeting that started at 3 p.m. Sept. 23 carried into the wee hours of the next morning as City Council members faced off over an amendment that would have restricted the use of city tax dollars for abortions, assistance for residents in the U.S. without legal documentation, and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
City Council narrowly supported adding the hot-button amendment to the $2 billion budget. But two backers of the amendments couldn’t vote on the final budget because they have business-related conflicts. That left council short of the 10 votes needed to pass the budget for as long as it contained the amendment sponsored by City Council members Rory Diamond.
After a series of revotes on the Diamond amendment that were the political equivalent of trench warfare with neither side gaining any ground, City Council member Will Lahnen broke the impasse.
Lahnen had voted repeatedly for the Diamond amendment and said he remains supportive of it, but he wanted to give the council a path toward approving the budget that kicks in Oct. 1.
“At this time, I see no line of sight on approving a budget, which is really our number one responsibility, with this amendment in there,” Lahnen said.
He voted to take the Diamond amendment out of the budget after getting assurances from three council members who had been voting “no”on the final budget that they would switch to “yes” if the amendment was scrapped.
The council then voted 15-2 for the budget with two abstentions by council members Terrance Freeman and Mike Gay. Council members Diamond and Jimmy Peluso voted against the budget. The marathon meeting concluded at 4:25 a.m.
This story will be updated with additional information.