JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The battle over Jacksonville\u2019s city budget took another turn Thursday, as the city\u2019s top legal authority weighed in \u2014 deepening the divide between Mayor Donna Deegan\u2019s administration and the Republican-led City Council.<\/p>\n
General Counsel Michael Fackler issued a formal six-page opinion stating that Mayor Deegan cannot veto the Council\u2019s proposed 1.1% property tax rate reduction \u2014 a key component of the Republican budget plan that would save taxpayers approximately $13 million but potentially impact city services. He also clarified that the mayor does not have the authority to veto the budget in its entirety.<\/p>\n
However, when it comes to a set of controversial amendments pushed by Councilman Rory Diamond targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, immigration-related services, and abortion funding, Fackler said the mayor can issue a line-item veto. The Council, in turn, could override that veto with a simple majority vote.<\/p>\n
[DOWNLOAD: <\/b>Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/b><\/a>]<\/b><\/p>\n DIAMOND DECLARES VICTORY: \u201cWE HAVE THE VOTES FOR AN OVERRIDE\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n Councilman Rory Diamond, the leading force behind the amendments, framed Fackler\u2019s opinion as a legal validation of his effort to restrict city funding for services he opposes.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I noted when I introduced my Big Beautiful Budget Amendments, Council absolutely can prohibit the spending on any item, including DEI, abortion, and services for illegals. The Office of General Counsel now finally agrees,\u201d Diamond said Thursday night in a statement to Action News Jax. <\/p>\n He criticized Fackler for what he called an unprecedented expansion of mayoral power.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Mayor\u2019s handpicked General Counsel somehow created a new power for the Mayor to line-item veto non-line items,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cThis will no doubt lead the Mayor to veto those provisions. We have the votes for an override, and we will ban the use of taxpayer money for DEI, illegals, and abortion once again.\u201d<\/p>\n It should be noted City Council confirmed Fackler in 2023 after it rejected the Mayor\u2019s first choice \u2014 former council member Randy DeFoor. <\/p>\n MAYOR\u2019S OFFICE: AMENDMENTS DESIGNED TO \u201cCREATE DIVISION\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n The Mayor\u2019s Office pushed back strongly on the amendments, arguing they are performative politics \u2014 not sound fiscal policy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe City Council\u2019s own auditors have repeatedly stated that the budget does not include any spending in the categories that Councilman Diamond is so concerned with,\u201d a spokesperson for Mayor Deegan said in a statement to Action News Jax. \u201cThe only purpose these unnecessary amendments seem to serve is creating division and gridlock.\u201d <\/p>\n TUESDAY NIGHT WALKOUT: DEMOCRATS EXIT IN PROTEST<\/b><\/p>\n The high-stakes standoff came to a head Tuesday night during a tense seven-hour Council budget hearing<\/a>, when four Democratic lawmakers walked out in protest. The walkout underscored just how fractured the city\u2019s leadership has become in the final days of budget negotiations.<\/p>\n Councilman Diamond used the moment to warn that if the city fails to eventually pass a budget, the Florida Department of Revenue will step in.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happens when we don\u2019t have a budget is the Department of Revenue eventually takes over our budget, which is controlled by our [state] CFO Blaise Ingoglia and our governor Ron DeSantis and our cabinet,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cI feel much more confident in their hands than you all just simply stonewalling so we can\u2019t get the 10 votes to pass the budget.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t going away. This is going to be in the budget. There is literally nothing you can do to stop it,\u201d he added. \u201cThe only thing you can do is force this into the hands of Tallahassee.\u201d<\/p>\n WHAT\u2019S NEXT?<\/b><\/p>\n With the budget deadline looming on Oct. 1 and neither side backing down, Jacksonville\u2019s city government is facing a potential constitutional and political crisis.<\/p>\n The next Council meeting to finalize the budget is Sept. 23.<\/p>\n\n