Peyton: 14 percent tax hike might be needed

[Lunican]

Peyton: 14 percent tax hike might be needed
Jacksonville mayor seeks revenue to fill $60 million hole in new budget

Jacksonville has a $60 million hole in its upcoming budget that might require a 14 percent property tax rate increase to fill, Mayor John Peyton told business and community leaders Tuesday.

Peyton floated the property rate tax hike idea during a private, invitation-only meeting at River City Brewing Co.

“Everyone, for the most part, was respectful. There was not much reaction,” said police union President Nelson Cuba, who was one of the 80 to 90 people in attendance.

The mayor’s office wouldn’t confirm any details from the meeting. Cuba said the mayor briefed the audience on the looming shortfall that threatens to chop away at city programs.

Full Article:
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-06-23/story/peyton_14_percent_tax_hike_might_be_needed

[thelakelander]

What will we be getting with this increase?  Is this just to remain status quo or can we expect this to help fund a few projects that will boost the city's quality of life and spur additional economic development?

[brainstormer]

Either he talked before thinking, or he should fire is PR staff.  He went about this in the completely wrong way.  I posted to Adam H. awhile back, that the city needs to find places to cut first.  Make a legitimate effort.  I suggested a 5% pay cut, usually taken as a furlough for the entire county staff, minus emergency.  There are also programs that are a waste of money, for example the program that renovates homes for the elderly in low income areas.  I'm sorry, I love my grandma, but the city shouldn't be paying for things like that.  Stop the handouts for starters.

Instead the mayor has managed to piss everyone off with talk of a 14% tax hike up front.  Good luck trying to get even the reasonable folks to back this now.  I agree, a small tax hike is necessary, and I was willing to pay it, but this is not a common sense way of approaching the taxpayers.  You fix the pension and cut employee salaries first, a few extra programs, buy cheaper furnishings for the courthouse instead of luxury, sell some city land, etc.  There are lots of ways to cut the budget first, then you approach the people and they are willing to listen as you have made a valiant effort to start.  Good luck Mr. Mayor with this one.  In my opinion you screwed up big time!

[JaxByDefault]

This would be why everyone in city government has been on the "less with less" message for the last two weeks.

Jacksonville already does not provide value for money. Like Lakelander, I'll go with an increase so long as the city shows me it is going for projects that back smart, sustainable development. (Read: not Metropolitan Park, no bid-contracts to cronies....) If the competency and vision of city government is not going to rise to meet the tax increase, then no thanks.

[jbroadglide]

Why should they cut employee salaries? City employees are also city taxpayers just like you. Why should they lose when it was the voters who decided to cap property taxes despite warnings from experts who said it would make things worse in the long run.

[Deuce]

I think that cutting employee salaries is counter-productive. It just feeds into the vicious cycle of recession that has occurred. I do support required unpaid furloughs of a couple weeks. While this amounts to a cut in salary for that year, it does allow future salaries to remain higher and more in line with the market (as it too will recover and all salaries will rise again). Plus you get some free vacation the way I see it. I have approached by own manager about this as while as our Union rep as they are currently go through negotiations for the next contract.

[hanjin1]

I wonder if Peyton and friends get a raise this year.

[BridgeTroll]

I might be more supportive if the revenues generated by this increase were targeted for specific projects or programs.  Simply asking for 14% to go into the city's coffers for the general budget is a huge concern for me.

[Karl_Pilkington]

I wonder if Peyton and friends get a raise this year.

Peyton lives of a multimillion dollar trust fund, he shouldn't even take a paycheck from the taxpayers.  His pay is like pennies in your pocket to you.  As long as the people still buy Gate gas and the city fills up its tanks with Gate gas, it won't matter to him how much of a pay cut he or any of his cronies have to take.  Its all monopoly money to him.

[hanjin1]

Dang, I don't even have a penny in my pocket right now. Damn you Peyton!

[stug]

You know what? I'm selling my house and going back to renting. Why are the people who've made an investment in this city the ones who get the shaft?

[CrysG]

And that is why I'm moving to Clay...

Maybe they needed some more money to plan more trips to France.

[JaxNative68]

"Jacksonville has a $60 million hole in its upcoming budget that might require a 14 percent property tax rate increase to fill, Mayor John Peyton told business and community leaders Tuesday."

This couldn't be part of the original $62 million the city pissed away on the first two courthouse designs, could it?  Or part of the other many highly over priced personal friend contracts Peyton has awarded.  Peyton may go down as one of the most unproductive Jacksonville Mayors in history.

[reednavy]

And that is why I'm moving to Clay...

Maybe they needed some more money to plan more trips to France.

Good ridance, just don't go under the speed limit on 295 if I'm behind you. You couldn't pay me enough to live in a county with only 3 ways really out into the rest of the metro area.

[CrysG]

And that is why I'm moving to Clay...

Maybe they needed some more money to plan more trips to France.

Good ridance, just don't go under the speed limit on 295 if I'm behind you. You couldn't pay me enough to live in a county with only 3 ways really out into the rest of the metro area.

That's fine, because after the city raises your property taxes, adds more fee's and misspends your tax money you might not be able to afford you car to drive anywhere.