Peyton's budget plan a hard sell

[Lunican]

The Florida Times-Union

September 3, 2007

Peyton's budget plan a hard sell



By BETH KORMANIK,
The Times-Union

Mayor John Peyton took his budget presentation to an unlikely spot last week: a meeting of the Duval County Democratic Party.

After speaking for more than an hour, Peyton left the room and the Democrats in attendance swiftly passed a resolution that "deplores, condemns and rejects" his budget proposal.

Such a reaction to a Republican mayor may have been predictable, but Peyton said he has faced tougher crowds as he has tried to sell his budget to citizens of Jacksonville.

With three new fees that chip away at the property tax savings promised by state lawmakers, and cuts to popular initiatives such as grants to nonprofit groups, Peyton knows it's a difficult task.

Also complicating Peyton's mission are lingering ethical questions about exclusive contracts given to firms owned by two of the mayor's friends. He apologized Tuesday to the City Council for the erosion in public trust in government.

"I've taken to the road to educate as many people as I can about this budget, because it is a very, very different budget," he said.

He is about halfway through more than 40 budget speeches he's scheduled to deliver to local organizations. He will play host Wednesday to a town meeting. The administration is negotiating with local television stations to air the event.

"I don't envy the mayor trying to sell his side of it," Council President Daniel Davis said. "It's a tough sell, definitely."

The goal of Peyton's speaking tour is to build support in the community and decrease the political pressure on City Council members. He needs 10 votes from the 19-member council to pass the budget. A final vote is expected Sept. 25.

"The council members are undoubtedly taking a lot of heat," Peyton said.

That's because he is asking them to pass these fees: $5 for residential garbage pickup; a 3 percent JEA fee on electricity, water and sewer use; and a monthly stormwater runoff fee that will cost most homeowners $5 a month.

The administration estimates the fees would bring in $26.5 million in the next fiscal year. They would bring in even more in future years because of built-in increases.

As a second-term mayor who has said he plans to return to the private sector, Peyton is in a safer position than council members who face re-election or campaigns for higher office. Peyton told the Democratic group that he was sympathetic to what the council faces. He noted that the garbage fee "cost people their job in politics," a reference to Mayor Tommy Hazouri's unsuccessful re-election bid after he implemented a garbage fee in 1990.

"No one runs for office to raise fees," Peyton said.

Peyton's staff is planning his most high-profile budget presentation: a town meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the city-owned Ritz Theatre. The mayor will take questions from reporters and answer some from the audience.

Anyone may attend the event, which will be recorded and shopped to local television stations.

Stations declined to air the program free, as Peyton's staff proposed it, so the city asked for bids to air the show during prime time and at a non-prime-time slot.

"It's not going to rival Grey's Anatomy, but we believe it's important for people," mayoral aide Susie Wiles said.

Wiles estimated the event will cost up to $40,000 to air. The program will be financed through private donations.

She said the city will post a video of the meeting on its Web site and invite local media to do the same.

Peyton's chances of getting his fees passed seem good based on the three days of budget hearings the Finance Committee has held. Finance Chairman Art Shad supports the fees. Council members have criticized the fees, but no one has suggested drastic cuts or alternate plans that would make the fees unnecessary.

In addition, Shad noted the committee restored cuts to some nonprofit groups and indicated it may restore funds to the Duval County Health Department and reverse Peyton's proposal to close every library except the main branch on Mondays.

Those compromises may make the fees easier for some people to accept. He said without them, "you run out of things to cut."

beth.kormanik@jacksonville.com (904) 359-4619

This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090307/met_196511825.shtml

[jbm32206]

If you're sick of the lies, the underhandedness of how Peyton and his administration are mishandling your tax dollars...then it's time we stand up and make ourselves heard. There's alot more to the fees than you may realize, and it's getting worse!

We're trying to organize a formal protest at city hall...if interested, let's join forces and make our voices heard. I realize that some here will view this as spam (and that's really not my intention at all) but there's serious issues that you all should know about and are being brought out into the open.

Yes, it's on another forum, but I wanted everyone to know about this, and then of course, you're welcome to join there or return here and discuss them...totally you're personal option...I just want for everyone to come together on this, and this was the best way I could think of to get the information out there.

Here's the link to the newest issue:http://jaxoutloud.com/forum/showthread.php?t=896

[Ocklawaha]

Abbie Hoffman, Angela Davis, Jerry Rubin, OMG! JBM, a genuine protest march? A protest? Do I have time to grow out my hair again? Let my freak flag fly? Oh boy, 1968 in Jacksonville all over again, just let me know when and where...



Tie dyes? Sandals? Rag-tag bell bottoms? Do I sense nostalgia in the air or what?

(Smile, I'll be there! Just say when)

Ocklawaha

[Lunican]

I don't really understand how it can cost $28 million to collect $26.5 million.

Are you sure news4jax didn't just mean they are collecting $28 million in fees?

Also, JEA already sends out bills so I don't see how there is an added cost associated with increasing everyone's bill by $5 a year.

[jbm32206]

Did you read the thread (the link) I posted? It's for real! It's on the news4jax website and it was on the tv.

[Lunican]

I looked through some of it, it's way too long though. It still doesn't make sense. They already send out bills every month. Where is the increased cost coming from?

Here is the news4jax story on the issue: http://www.news4jax.com/news/14109657/detail.html

[dv8]

I don't really understand how it can cost $28 million to collect $26.5 million.

johnny could hire a friend to explain that to you... if you pay for it. 

[jbm32206]

The date for the protest will be Tuesday, September 25th....the time will be forthcoming.

[mompatriot]

 Budget cuts and fee increases--has anyone checked out the salaries?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Take a look at this link:

http://www.jacksonville.com/databases/news/jacksonville_salaries/

Put in a search for specific city functions/departments and consider the proposed fee increases.  What is particularly surprising is the JEA fee in light of the huge number of extremely highly paid employees...JEA, the government provider of services who spends a considerable amount on marketing (?), and who has announced significant increases in cost to the consumer which will now possibly be layered with an additional 3% for budget shortfalls...could it be, perhaps, that some of these organizations are a bit top-heavy?  When you add not only the salaries but generous benefits for these government employees, we need to analyze carefully and speak loudly if we disagree.

Of other interest/shock is the Duval County School Board salaries--who are all these chiefs, deputy chiefs, assistant deputy chiefs, directors, executive directors, etc?  Again, top heavy is appears to be a huge understatement, particularly when the organization is failing so miserably to meet goals... In private industry, there would be wholesale firing... Maybe if we'd get rid of 75% of these folks and their absurd salaries, we could put some more money in the classroom where it belongs. 

[jbm32206]

Isn't that the truth!

[walter]

here's an example of why these taxes (fees) are a complete joke on the citizens of Jacksonville.  This is an excerpt from the minutes of a city council meeting on the garbage collection taxes...

"Adam Hollingsworth began by describing how solid waste collection is currently charged. All businesses and multi-family residences of more than 4 units must subscribe to private waste collection. Single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes and quadraplexes receive curbside waste collection paid through the City General Fund. Annual revenue from the proposed fee is projected at $15 million. The fee is proposed to be implemented on April 1, 2008 for 6 months of FY07/08 and to produce $5.1 million for solid waste operations (net after the expense of billing and collection of the fee)"SO IT COSTS THE CITY 5 MILLION TO COLLECT THEIR NEW TAX, per year!!!  WHERE DOES IT END?

[big ben]

Annual revenue from the proposed fee is projected at $15 million. The fee is proposed to be implemented on April 1, 2008 for 6 months of FY07/08 and to produce $5.1 million for solid waste operations (net after the expense of billing and collection of the fee)"SO IT COSTS THE CITY 5 MILLION TO COLLECT THEIR NEW TAX, per year!!!  WHERE DOES IT END?

doesn't that mean they gain 5.1 million, which means they spend about 10 million for billing and collection?

[Ocklawaha]

Why not just take the parking meters out of downtown and connect the same to everyones toilet... Each flush equals .25 cents

I can't think of a better way for the City to collect it.

Ocklawaha