Opposing Stories in T-U today re: Jax's Budget: When will this be reconciled?

[zoo]

When will Jacksonvillians realize this City can't afford to give them "something for nothing" anymore. When will leadership lead to address this problem of citizen expectations vs. what is really possible?

Jacksonville's fees are the lowest of any City I've every lived in, and the level of City service is reflective of that. I don't like taxes any more than the next citizen, but realistically I'd pay more if I thought there was a chance it would be allocated to fix problems in my area instead of being directed at PSG's and pristine communities in the suburbs that want their environment more secure/sterile.

JCCI: Budget "crisis" requires tough decisions
JCCI study points out problems it says will add to current budget woes.

BY TIA MITCHELL
STORY UPDATED AT 5:13 AM ON WEDNESDAY, JUN. 10, 2009

REVENUE SOURCES

The JCCI study released Wednesday lists a dozen ways the city could increase revenue and shore up the budget. Among those revenue sources:

Property taxes: The study points out that the City Council can raise the tax rate up to 20 mills if three-quarters of members approve; lesser increases can be done with either a two-thirds or simple majority vote.

Solid waste fee: An additional $1 a month per household would generate $2.6 million.

Business tax: Increasing the Occupation License tax 5 percent would generate $374,000.

Public safety tax: The city can establish a dedicated property tax stream for police and fire expenses, for up to two years.

Jacksonville is facing a "financial crisis" that will only be solved by making tough decisions with long-term implications, according to a Jacksonville Community Council Inc. study released today.

The yearlong review -"Our Money, Our City: Financing Jacksonville's Future" - resulted in recommendations that fall under two headings: solving the financial crisis and building public trust. For the next two years, JCCI will focus on implementing the recommendations by encouraging community-wide discussions.

The report is the third time JCCI has weighed in on the city's financial health, most recently in 1992, according to J.F. Bryan IV, the study chairman. This time, he said, the problems are worse and long-term solutions are urgently needed.

"Our study concluded 'business as usual' is not sustainable and absolutely cannot continue," Bryan said. "Doing nothing is not one of the options here."

The study chastised present and former city leaders for running the city "on the cheap" - focusing on keeping taxes low and not paying enough attention to whether services are being adequately funded.

Today's budget woes were created by "short-sighted financial decisions for political expediency built over multiple administrations," Bryan said.

Jacksonville is facing a projected deficit of up to $90 million due largely to decreasing property tax revenue and rising pension costs.

Mayor John Peyton and some City Council members were briefed on the report Tuesday. Peyton also gave Bryan a letter commending the study and its findings.

Many citizens approve of recent budget reductions, the city's low per-capita expenditures and relatively modest taxes and fees, compared to other Florida cities, Peyton wrote. However, the mayor added, the question of whether the city is "under-investing" in the community and "shortchanging the quality of life" for its citizens merits discussion.

"It is my hope and expectation that this report will stimulate a community conversation on this important subject, and I look forward to JCCI's engagement in that regard," Peyton wrote.

A dozen revenue streams are identified by the report as options for additional revenue, but no city departments or services are specifically targeted for reductions.

To build the public trust, the study encourages greater citizen input and transparency during the budget process, as well as during discussions on the long-term city vision. That is one area council President-elect Richard Clark, briefed on the study Tuesday, is ready to embrace.

He plans to hold public budget hearings this summer in locations other than City Hall to encourage greater citizen involvement.

"The best thing to do is go out into the city so we aren't forcing people to come to us," Clark said.

The JCCI study, he said, defines the problems Jacksonville faces well, but what still needs to be addressed is how to solve them. That is where the next two years of public input come into play, he said.

"I didn't see concrete ideas," Clark said, "but I think the concrete ideas need to come from the people."

tia.mitchell@jacksonville.com

(904) 359-4425

Dozens protest new fees they say hit poor hardest
They'd rather cut social programs to balance budget than raise taxes.

BY JOSH SALMAN
STORY UPDATED AT 6:42 AM ON WEDNESDAY, JUN. 10, 2009

Calling for a rollback in county fees, dozens of protesters gathered outside City Hall, holding signs, shouting at passersby - even wearing oversized Mayor John Peyton masks.

The rally, organized by Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County, took aim at three fees approved in 2007 that boosted solid waste and stormwater charges, and tacked on a 3 percent monthly JEA "franchise" surcharge.

The new fees helped Peyton balance the $959 million budget for 2007-08. City Hall mailed the annual bills to about 269,000 homeowners and 21,000 businesses in May.

But protesters Tuesday said the fees are unfair, hitting the poor the hardest during tough economic times.

"They keep saying we're going to face huge shortfalls, but then they took on a $30 million entitlement with the Jacksonville Journey" anti-crime initiative, said Victor Wilhelm, vice president of the taxpayer group. "If we were more fiscally responsible, we wouldn't be faced with these shortfalls. The new courthouse alone was $160 million of our budget."

The solid waste and stormwater bills, averaging a combined $111, will be due in full by July 31.

The money will go directly to drainage projects aimed at protecting the St. Johns River, and trash and recycling programs. The fees are expected to raise about $76 million this fiscal year and $79 million in 2009-10, said Misty Skipper, spokeswoman for the mayor's office.

"They will make us less dependant on property taxes," she said.

The protesters countered that raising fees isn't the answer. Cutting social programs is.

"It's unfit, unfair and put my grandchildren in debt," Jacksonville resident Jessie Johnson said. "Jacksonville Journey will do no good. Reducing crime is up to the cops and courts, not the mayor."

Homeowner Roger Smith said the added fees equaled 25 percent of his property taxes. And while he's struggling to pay electric bills and put food on the table, he's being forced to pay additional fees. The retired city worker suggested cutting unnecessary building and road projects.

While it's unlikely that fees will be rolled back in the middle of a budget crisis, a few members of the City Council appeared at the rally to show their support.

"It's just not fair that if these people can't afford the bill, a lien is put on their home," said Councilwoman Glorious Johnson, who voted against the fees in 2007. "I'm going to push for these fees to be reduced and tighten the budget with the way we waste money."

josh.salman@jacksonville.com

(904) 359-4351

[tufsu1]

When will Jacksonvillians realize this City can't afford to give them "something for nothing" anymore. When will leadership lead to address this problem of citizen expectations vs. what is really possible?

probabaly about the same time that everyone in FL and the whole country figure this out too