{"id":80456,"date":"2025-07-21T11:16:40","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/80456\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T11:16:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:16:40","slug":"donna-deegan-rolls-out-jacksonvilles-first-2b-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/80456\/","title":{"rendered":"Donna Deegan rolls out Jacksonville’s first $2B budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jacksonville<\/a> <\/strong>Mayor\u00a0Donna Deegan<\/strong><\/a> sounded optimistic as she unveiled the third budget of her first term \u2014 the first $2 billion budget in city history, but with no reserve spending.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur new day is dawning. Our time is now. And time is something we can\u2019t get back,\u201d the Democratic chief executive told City Council members Monday.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s spending represents an increase from 2024\u2019s proposed budget<\/a><\/strong> of roughly $1.9 billion, which was the biggest in the still-growing Northeast Florida city\u2019s history at the time, with what Deegan said was $687 million in Capital Improvement Plan spending.<\/p>\n

Deegan seeks to \u201cclose the list to new debt-funded projects for the next few years\u201d and with future projects, pay-as-you-go will be the way forward.<\/p>\n

Despite the size of the budget, the Mayor said it wasn\u2019t an expansion of government.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are one of the fastest growing cities in America each year. So we are cutting the red tape to serve our people better and faster. Bottom line: While the city is growing, your government is not,\u201d Deegan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re no longer budgeting for programs just because \u2018that\u2019s how we\u2019ve always done it.\u2019 This budget prioritizes projects and programs that offer the best return on investment for our citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the goodies in the proposal were items unlikely to be opposed by anyone, including a shaded structure for the downtown Veterans\u2019 Memorial Wall<\/a><\/strong>. Additionally, $100,000 for Fintech incubator Jax Hub and a $1 million workforce center for the Urban League are in play, along with $12 million for affordable housing and homelessness, which Deegan described as partially fueled by a \u201cpartnership with developers who understand the urgency.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than $100 million in parks spending is also contemplated, including $87.5 million for riverfront parks. Additionally, more than $20 million would be spent on the Community Benefits Agreement that was part of the Jaguars\u2019 stadium deal, with $14 million of that evenly allocated in the 14 Council districts.<\/p>\n

But public safety, as is traditional, is the big spend, with nearly a billion dollars allocated, including more than $100 million in salary and pension boosts.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sheriff\u2019s Office is set to get everything it asks for, with $638 million in proposed money this year. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department would get $387 million if the budget is approved as written.<\/p>\n


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