QuoteCity Council President Bill Gulliford's tenure as council president will end with one more tug-of-war with Mayor Alvin Brown over the city budget.
This time, it involves legislation filed by Gulliford to shift the $13 million settlement from the failed Shipyards development into an account controlled by the City Council.
The infusion of settlement money has already sparked requests from the Downtown Investment Authority to use it for downtown redevelopment. City Council member Kimberly Daniels filed legislation last week seeking $500,000 for summer youth programs.
Brown hasn't said how he wants to use the money. He is putting together his proposed 2014-15 budget, which he will present to the City Council in mid-July. Gulliford's bill could come up for a vote June 24.
Gulliford said by moving the $13 million into the City Council account, the legislation will ensure all the money goes solely toward catching up on needed capital improvements — a category that covers construction projects such as roads, drainage, and parks. Gulliford said the money shouldn't be used to balance the budget when it comes to day-to-day operating expenses of city government.
full article: http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-06-15/story/gulliford-seeks-city-council-control-over-13-million-settlement-failed