JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Jacksonville could find itself in a budget crisis if the city council fails to approve a budget Tuesday night. <\/p>\n
That\u2019s the warning issued by the city\u2019s top attorney in a memo sent to city leaders.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville\u2019s General Counsel Michael Fackler wrote that millions of dollars in state funding would be lost and the city\u2019s credit rating could take a hit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ball is now in the City Council\u2019s court to complete their primary responsibility as the legislative branch. We will continue working with them to invest in all of Jacksonville\u2019s people,\u201d said Mayor Donna Deegan in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n
But two major sticking points still exist, and because some members must abstain from the final vote due to conflicts, the math is getting complicated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all trying to read the tea leaves,\u201d said Councilmember Rahman Johnson (D-District 14).<\/p>\n
Councilmember Johnson is hoping both the proposed property tax cut and amendments blocking funding for DEI, abortion and immigrants without legal status fall by the wayside.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey call it the big beautiful amendment or whatever, but to me it\u2019s a big batch of bull. It\u2019s the thing that held us up before. It says that people who look like me or people who are different aren\u2019t included,\u201d said Johnson.<\/p>\n
RELATED: <\/b>Walkouts, cursing and insults: City council temporarily strips controversial amendments from budget<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Action News Jax confirmed at least two council members who have opposed the tax cut would be willing to support the final budget with the cut included to avoid the loss of state funding.<\/p>\n But no members who have opposed Councilmember Rory Diamond\u2019s (R-District 13) proposed spending restrictions have said they\u2019d do the same should those measures be included.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have 11 votes. It\u2019s eight people who are putting us at risk,\u201d said Diamond.<\/p>\n Diamond tells Action News Jax he\u2019s not budging.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always, conservatives, you just give in. Conservatives, you should let go and just let the liberals do whatever they want. No. I was elected. I\u2019m gonna stand on principle,\u201d said Diamond.<\/p>\n Only one councilmember we\u2019ve heard from, Councilmember Ken Amaro (R-District 1), has indicated he\u2019s still undecided.<\/p>\n Johnson is urging all of his colleagues to think long and hard over the coming days.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we\u2019ve got to look beyond a campaign ad. We\u2019ve gotta look beyond what\u2019s in front of us and look at the future,\u201d said Johnson.<\/p>\n Based on Action News Jax\u2019s conversations, it seems no council member fully knows what will happen in the end.<\/p>\n It\u2019s safe to say, we can expect a rollercoaster of a council meeting Tuesday night.<\/p>\n >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n [DOWNLOAD: <\/b>Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/b><\/a>]<\/b><\/p>\n