Jax: “I just want to remind everybody that we have no money"

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The newly elected chairwoman of the Duval County Legislative Delegation warned dozens of government and nonprofit leaders Monday that this is not the year to ask for new funding for their agencies.

“I just want to remind everybody that we have no money,” Rep. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, said to kick off the delegation’s annual organizational meeting and public hearing.

“As you come, please focus on holding on to what you have and let us know what your critical missions are,” Gibson said.

Most of the roughly 60 speakers that addressed the delegation took her words to heart during nearly four hours of testimony. They used their three-minute blocks of time to tout their work in the community and ask that their state funding levels be preserved for another year.

Speakers addressed topics including elder care, juvenile justice, services for the homeless and preserving Jacksonville’s history from the silent film era. Even representatives from neighboring counties took the opportunity to address their elected officials, since many districts cross county lines.

John Keane, executive director of the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund, asked for legislators’ help in easing investment restrictions that he said has cost similar funds around the state hundreds of millions of dollars.

“We don’t want your money,” he said. “What we do want is your help to make money.”

Penny Thompson, vice president of public affairs at Shands Jacksonville, again asked for the delegation’s support in giving Duval County the right to increase the sales tax a half-cent to cover the cost of indigent care.

Last year, Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a bill that would have allowed the tax to be levied, either with a majority of voter approval or a super-majority of the City Council.

This year, a bill will be introduced that only allows the issue to be put on the ballot for voters to decide. Gibson said getting that passed will be one of her priorities this year, giving Duval County the flexibility that others around the state already have.

“It doesn’t mean that we have to do it,” she said. “But we’re just trying to get it on the books so we can be allowed to have a vote by the public.”

Gibson said preserving funding for the state’s voluntary pre-kindergarten program and ensuring federal stimulus dollars are being used to complete transportation projects are also at the top of her list.

Ironically, the first speaker to address the delegation doesn’t represent a Duval County entity. Felecia Hampshire,  mayor of Green Cove Springs, said the small Clay County town needed help addressing high-priority projects because of its limited tax base.

Hampshire said $2 million in improvements to the city’s solid waste treatment plant are needed to meet state limits on the amount of pollutants released into the St. Johns River.

But with limited ability to raise the city’s millage rate and a large number of low-income families, help at the state level is needed, she said.

“I understand that you are the Duval delegation,” Hampshire said, “but I would really like to ask that you don’t forget your neighbors to the south.”

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-11-10/story/not_a_good_time_to_seek_funds_duval_delegation_warns