Why Move to Jacksonville?

[Shine]

It's interesting this discussion tends to revolve around discretionary relocation: affordability, lifestyle, etc.  For the vast majority of people it has to do with employment and opportunity – lifestyle is a secondary issue.  Do the jobs that you are trained to do exist in the area?  Are the employees and customers you need for your business in Jacksonville?  Many people are now being educated in the area (UNF, JU, FCSL, etc) but you have to consider how many of the jobs young people are training for exist, or don't exist here.  Then comes the question of "out migration" – why leave and can you afford to stay here? 

"Low taxes" and low cost of living are deceiving facts.  They are meaningless unless compared against the typical household income and appropriately "weighted" to adjust for regional differences. Obviously, a significant factor in the cost to run the city and the school system is the cost of employees who work in the system.  I would bet it is the largest single cost.  Cheaper labor = lower taxes.  Cheap labor = lower cost of living.  But, when you are "Cheap labor," how much further ahead are you?  How much is left over for savings, entertainment,  higher education? 

Politicians telling you how good you have it with low taxes and low cost of living – I got to ask, what are they  trying to sell you?  Quite frankly, I look at the "average" in this town and it looks like they are struggling hard to make it work.