QuoteJacksonville City Council committee recommends approval of full community benefits agreement
After months of speculation and debate, a Jacksonville City Council committee recommended approval to fulfill the city's full $150 million of the community benefits agreement from the city's stadium renovation deal with the Jaguars — potentially unlocking a Jaguars match investment.
The committee settled on $40 million toward the Eastside neighborhood adjacent to the stadium, $40 million for countywide homelessness, affordable housing and workforce development initiatives, and $1 million for each of the 14 City Council districts. The council already approved $56 million for Riverfront parks.
The agreement differs from what the mayor's administration initially negotiated with the Jaguars, but Council member Jimmy Peluso called it a great compromise.
Full article: https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/government/2024/08/26/eastside-workforce-development-center-of-community-benefits-agreement-jaguars-jacksonville-council/74952907007/
Fantastic news.
Hoping the full council passes it without major opposition.
Don't love the $40 million for homelessness and affordable housing being stretched over 33 years, but very happy it's there.
Curious, what's the rationale for opposing this?
QuoteCouncil President Randy White also committed to forming a second special committee to debate the potential of a special taxing district in which revenue in the Eastside will continuously recycle back to the community. The idea has faced both praise and criticism from the City Council.
Quote from: Ken_FSU on August 26, 2024, 10:36:54 PM
Fantastic news.
Hoping the full council passes it without major opposition.
Don't love the $40 million for homelessness and affordable housing being stretched over 33 years, but very happy it's there.
Curious, what's the rationale for opposing this?
QuoteCouncil President Randy White also committed to forming a second special committee to debate the potential of a special taxing district in which revenue in the Eastside will continuously recycle back to the community. The idea has faced both praise and criticism from the City Council.
I attended a meeting where this was discussed several weeks ago. Some in Council are concerned that it would keep the added value in a small area, and removes the possibility of the added value being used as needed elsewhere. It's my understanding the Governor's office would not approve the tax district mechanism typically used in situations like this (they don't like all the impacts they've had elsewhere), so this proposal would be something less permanent, more easily changed in the future.
Quote from: fsu813 on August 27, 2024, 07:44:39 AM
Quote from: Ken_FSU on August 26, 2024, 10:36:54 PM
Fantastic news.
Hoping the full council passes it without major opposition.
Don't love the $40 million for homelessness and affordable housing being stretched over 33 years, but very happy it's there.
Curious, what's the rationale for opposing this?
QuoteCouncil President Randy White also committed to forming a second special committee to debate the potential of a special taxing district in which revenue in the Eastside will continuously recycle back to the community. The idea has faced both praise and criticism from the City Council.
I attended a meeting where this was discussed several weeks ago. Some in Council are concerned that it would keep the added value in a small area, and removes the possibility of the added value being used as needed elsewhere. It's my understanding the Governor's office would not approve the tax district mechanism typically used in situations like this (they don't like all the impacts they've had elsewhere), so this proposal would be something less permanent, more easily changed in the future.
Great info, thanks for the explanation!
So basically, they don't like the idea of being able to siphon money from this area to subsidize growth in other areas of the city, which has been taking place for a good century now.