JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 This week, the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee advanced the annual budget, having trimmed $23 million from Mayor Donna Deegan\u2019s initial $2 billion budget proposal.<\/p>\n
The budget will now head to the full council, where some of those cuts will be put under additional scrutiny. <\/p>\n
Finance Chair Will Lahnen (R-District 3) said the budget passed by the Finance Committee would reduce year-over-year spending for the first time in more than a decade.<\/p>\n
Th biggest cut by the committee was a $7.8 million reduction to the council\u2019s strategic planning fund.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tried to lead by example, like I said, to where, okay, let\u2019s not start new council items just to fill up that $10 million bucket,\u201d said Lahnen.<\/p>\n
The other big reduction was a $4.9 million cut to affordable housing.<\/p>\n
Mayor Donna Deegan had requested the funds to prop up a down payment assistance program and reserve money to help support affordable housing construction.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of our residents feel like they\u2019re being priced out,\u201d said Councilmember Mone Holder (D-Group 1 At-Large).<\/p>\n
Holder, who was just sworn in this week after winning her special election in August, said she and some of her fellow council members plan to fight to restore that funding.<\/p>\n
She argued the city has for too long put affordability issues on the back burner.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not going to solve the entire affordable housing issue with a $4.9 million trust fund, but it is a way for us to take a step forward,\u201d said Holder.<\/p>\n
The mayor\u2019s office also indicated it plans to fight to get affordable housing funds back in the budget.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was disappointing to see the affordable housing funding removed given that there is such a great need, and citizens tell us this is their top concern. We will work with the full City Council to restore this critical funding in September,\u201d said spokesperson with the mayor\u2019s office in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n
Lahnen said he anticipates the affordable housing debate to be the focus come budget night.<\/p>\n
But he argued the looming threat of the property tax phaseout amendment prompted the Finance Committee to avoid approving new spending.<\/p>\n
And he noted the council generally favors funding specific projects, rather than placeholder trust funds like the mayor had proposed.<\/p>\n
\u201cA great example, just down the road here on Beach Boulevard there\u2019s a development coming in to tackle some of the affordable housing issues around here. So, council has said yes when we\u2019ve seen tangible items come before us that we know exactly what we\u2019re getting,\u201d said Lahnen.<\/p>\n
On top of the $23 million-worth of cuts, the Finance Committee also set aside $7 million for the city\u2019s arts, cultural and public service nonprofits.<\/p>\n
Those funds would automatically be restored if the property tax amendment fails in November.<\/p>\n
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