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'Proactive, practical and not political': Deegan highlights city's efficiency initiatives ahead of 'Duval DOGE' meeting
Marcela Camargo, Digital Producer, Jacksonville
Published: March 11, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Updated: March 11, 2025 at 4:13 PM
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan discussed on Tuesday some of the city's initiatives focused on smarter governance, greater efficiency and responsible stewardship.
During a news conference at City Hall, Deegan gave updates on Jacksonville's 904 Lean Initiative program. The event came just an hour before a meeting set to be hosted by Jacksonville City Council Member Ron Salem to discuss a possible effort he referred to as "Duval DOGE."
"These changes are practical, proactive and not political," Deegan said. "And that's not all. My administration takes our responsibility to the taxpayers very, very seriously."
Some of the efforts highlighted on Tuesday included the use of AI. "We are among the first cities in the nation to leverage AI and advanced financial modeling to improve our budgeting process," Deegan said. "This AI-driven approach allows us to make sure our budget decisions are data-driven."
Deegan said the city is also working on new legislation to ensure fairness and accountability on taxpayer dollars and how they are being spent.
The Lean Initiative is a program focused on improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of city government operations.
Last week, Deegan said Duval DOGE felt "more political than practical."
Read more: https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2025/03/11/live-deegan-to-discuss-citys-efficiency-initiatives-ahead-of-councilmans-duval-doge-meeting/
I understand that Mayor Deegan feels the need to do this given the current political climate, but as has been said elsewhere it seems silly to make all this talk about big cuts as the city continues to grow along with its needs. But I guess if we might be heading towards a recession having this kind of attitude may be called for.
Even if we naively remove all aspects of partisan politics and assume the very best intentions behind the federal DOGE project, the underpinning justification is that waste, fraud, abuse, and inefficiency exists at such a massive and pervasive scale that incremental improvements would be insufficient -- hence, the chainsaw vs the scalpel.
For the sake of argument, let's stipulate to that premise. Even if true, that doesn't mean Florida's government is the same -- nor Jacksonville's -- nor, for that matter, any of our individual household budgets. When's the last time anyone here canceled utilities, all of your monthly subscriptions, your cell phone, and fired the babysitter simultaneously all in the name of "efficiency?"
Back in the real world, all of this piggybacking on Musk's DOGE efforts is simple puffery and "conservative credential" virtue signaling in the name of partisanship. As a conservative-leaning person myself, the hypocrisy of the right on fiscal matters is infuriating at the federal level and has no business being part of our local politics.
Quote from: marcuscnelson on March 12, 2025, 11:21:19 AM
I understand that Mayor Deegan feels the need to do this given the current political climate, but as has been said elsewhere it seems silly to make all this talk about big cuts as the city continues to grow along with its needs. But I guess if we might be heading towards a recession having this kind of attitude may be called for.
Nevermind a recession -- how about all this talk of increasing the homestead exemption or eliminating property taxes altogether?
Quote from: jaxoNOLE on March 12, 2025, 12:51:08 PM
Quote from: marcuscnelson on March 12, 2025, 11:21:19 AM
I understand that Mayor Deegan feels the need to do this given the current political climate, but as has been said elsewhere it seems silly to make all this talk about big cuts as the city continues to grow along with its needs. But I guess if we might be heading towards a recession having this kind of attitude may be called for.
Nevermind a recession -- how about all this talk of increasing the homestead exemption or eliminating property taxes altogether?
But those are related. If a state wants to kill off property tax collection in order to rely almost entirely on tourism-induced sales tax revenue while still increasing spending and getting worse at spending effectively in the name of "efficiency," with just
hope that a recession doesn't proceed to kneecap tourism then... good luck. That plus a bad hurricane or two seems like pretty much the ballgame.
Politicians that want to cut taxes are really about wealth transfer from the poor to the rich. How? Because rich people benefit the most from tax cuts and poor people lose the most from the resulting necessity to cut government spending on services.
Politically, the poor don't participate as actively in political campaigns as wealthy people so there are not significant penalties to most politicians promoting budget cuts. And, there is a lot more risk to politicians trying to restore tax revenue down the road by cancelling tax cuts.
It will be interesting to see if anyone speaks for letting Trump's first term tax cuts expire which would add trillions in Federal revenue to fund much of what Musk says needs to go. I don't expect to here this from either party. So, deficits and/or expense cutting will continue and the problems will persist. The same process applies to the State and City, with the exception that only cutting expenses are allowed as deficit spending isn't an option.
And now Terrance Freeman wants in on the action. So by my count, we have the annual city audit, the mayor's LEAN program, Duval DOGE, and now Florida DOGE conducting a city audit. Nothing like true government efficiency...
QuoteNew legislation from Jacksonville City Council member Terrance Freeman would invite the state of Florida's Department of Government Efficiency to audit the city's finances.
Freeman's Resolution 2025-0259 expresses support for Gov. Ron DeSantis' creation of the state DOGE initiative, which is modeled after the Trump administration's similar effort.
The local legislation seeks recommendations from state DOGE officials to promote fiscal responsibility, maximize productivity and enhance transparency, according to an April 7 news release.
"Taxpayers deserve confidence that their money is being spent wisely," Freeman said in the release. "By voluntarily inviting the Governor's DOGE team to examine Jacksonville's books, we're embracing accountability and actively seeking ways to trim government waste, improve efficiency, and pass savings along to the taxpayers."
According to the release, Duval County would become the third in Florida to welcome the DOGE audit, following Bay and Hillsborough, both of which are on the Gulf Coast.
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/apr/07/council-member-terrance-freeman-seeks-to-allow-jacksonville-to-opt-into-state-doge-initiative/
Yet they're all seemingly fine spending $500 million on a network of spraypainted ambulances circling the crumbling historic structures we're too poor to publicly rehab.
(https://external-preview.redd.it/AWbJbhoQM23khcQJOJXvGrnbLGiAHEv5hVGvDH7hnb8.png?auto=webp&s=129c47a108df4c76bc11d33aabe02ebe3fde6d65)
Quote from: Ken_FSU on April 08, 2025, 02:10:07 PM
Yet they're all seemingly fine spending $500 million on a network of spraypainted ambulances circling the crumbling historic structures we're too poor to publicly rehab.
(https://external-preview.redd.it/AWbJbhoQM23khcQJOJXvGrnbLGiAHEv5hVGvDH7hnb8.png?auto=webp&s=129c47a108df4c76bc11d33aabe02ebe3fde6d65)
I knew you were a man of culture Ken. But seriously, JTA acts with impunity.
^Its a shame. Hard to take people seriously about cost cutting with the amount of money being blown by risky and questionable investments they publicly support.
Love UNF but not sure this is a project a cash strapped city should be funding. Maybe Salem and Freeman can start here 8).
Really, the State should be funding these requests. Seems it has done a good job of putting this burden on local cities (see also the City's subsidy of UF's new campus) when there was a time the State took more responsibility for funding our colleges and universities.
Ironic, given the State wants to simultaneously take local governance back to Tallahassee. Sticking cities with new responsibilities but little or no authority >:(.
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Council approves $3 million for esports arena at University of North Florida
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/apr/09/council-approves-3-million-for-esports-arena-at-university-of-north-florida/
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on April 09, 2025, 11:17:52 PM
Love UNF but not sure this is a project a cash strapped city should be funding. Maybe Salem and Freeman can start here 8).
To be somewhat fair, I guess (from the article):
QuoteThe funding is part of a $7.98 million pot of funds that the city "recaptured" after the 2023-24 fiscal year, meaning the money was not spent by the city during that year.
The $3 million for the UNF arena will count toward the city's portion of the $300 million community benefits agreement with the Jacksonville Jaguars, a companion to the $1.4 billion deal to transform EverBank Stadium into the team's "Stadium of the Future."
Council member Will Lahnen, whose District 3 includes the UNF campus, described the arena as a deficit-neutral investment in workforce development given that it constitutes unspent money as opposed to new expenditure from the city's general fund. He said the project would position Northeast Florida to be a regional leader in esports training and development.
At the end of the day, it seems only fair to throw UNF a bone when so much money is going to UF. To speak more broadly (and putting JTA aside), it seems bizarre to be making a hoopla over the land-swap proposal given that any development on the riverfront parcel would likely entail incentives anyway. It's also very funny to be making a hoopla over giving incentives in general when Council previously approved the Related tower on the Southbank, of all things.
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on April 09, 2025, 11:17:52 PM
Really, the State should be funding these requests. Seems it has done a good job of putting this burden on local cities (see also the City's subsidy of UF's new campus) when there was a time the State took more responsibility for funding our colleges and universities.
Ironic, given the State wants to simultaneously take local governance back to Tallahassee. Sticking cities with new responsibilities but little or no authority >:(.
States cutting higher education budgets and shifting the burden onto municipalities, federally backed student loans, and international students has been a national trend for the past half-century. Florida might be giving it more flair but isn't really doing anything new in terms of that. More striking is probably the proposed cuts to things like Tri-Rail ($60 million per year) while continuing to pour billions into highway projects and K-12 voucher programs, while
also proposing multi-billion-dollar tax cuts. Not sure how much bang for buck that all gets you.
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on April 09, 2025, 11:17:52 PM
Love UNF but not sure this is a project a cash strapped city should be funding.
Love UNF and think that this is a cool project that I've got no problem with the city supporting.
That said, I do think it goes against the spirit of the CBA to draw down almost 10% of the CBA's workforce development balance for this project.
Does it
technically count as workforce development to train college students to play video games professionally and try to compete for one a few thousand "competitive gamer" jobs that exist domestically, largely outside of Jacksonville? I don't know, maybe.
Is this why the CBA was created? I'd argue no, and that the funds should be used according to a larger strategic plan to uptrain disenfrachised local populations with the hard skills necessary to succeed in this city and make Jacksonville a more equitable, safe, and productive place.
Litmus test to me is: "If I am living in a distressed community with few opportunities and being asked to help bankroll a $1.4 billion stadium for the better-to-do with my tax dollars, does [Project X] make me feel better about that sacrifice."
Affordable housing? Yep. Homeless support? Yep. A new community center offering trade classes? Sure. A fancy esports arena for UNF students to learn how to "game" professionally? To me, it's a no.
Less concerned about this specific project, more concerned about the CBA being tapped for pet projects without a publicly available strategic framework for its highest and best use in the spirit of which it was created. With the general fund stretched very thin for the next couple of years, there will be lots more temptation to tap the CBA.
Quote from: Zac T on April 08, 2025, 12:39:16 PM
And now Terrance Freeman wants in on the action. So by my count, we have the annual city audit, the mayor's LEAN program, Duval DOGE, and now Florida DOGE conducting a city audit. Nothing like true government efficiency...
QuoteNew legislation from Jacksonville City Council member Terrance Freeman would invite the state of Florida's Department of Government Efficiency to audit the city's finances.
Freeman's Resolution 2025-0259 expresses support for Gov. Ron DeSantis' creation of the state DOGE initiative, which is modeled after the Trump administration's similar effort.
The local legislation seeks recommendations from state DOGE officials to promote fiscal responsibility, maximize productivity and enhance transparency, according to an April 7 news release.
"Taxpayers deserve confidence that their money is being spent wisely," Freeman said in the release. "By voluntarily inviting the Governor's DOGE team to examine Jacksonville's books, we're embracing accountability and actively seeking ways to trim government waste, improve efficiency, and pass savings along to the taxpayers."
According to the release, Duval County would become the third in Florida to welcome the DOGE audit, following Bay and Hillsborough, both of which are on the Gulf Coast.
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/apr/07/council-member-terrance-freeman-seeks-to-allow-jacksonville-to-opt-into-state-doge-initiative/
It's even worse than that. Council already has responsibility the vet the budget through the Finance Committee, which holds budget hearings and makes recommended changes that go to the full Council to approve. Those two things naturally require significant taxpayer resources and staff hours, but when done right it's well worth it. Council also have their own full-time team of excellent auditors (though they don't always follow their advice). And by charter, Council also must hire an independent, external auditor each year.
Plus, for the last year the administration's 904 LEAN initiative is already finding efficiencies and saving staff hours without slashing services, which will be reflected in the upcoming budget. So Salem's "Duval DOGE" committee and Freeman's move to invite Florida DOGE are on top of all that, and can't really do anything besides what Council already has to do. Salem and Freeman's moves are just political theater the taxpayers have to pay for.
Quote from: Ken_FSU on April 10, 2025, 09:23:28 AM
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on April 09, 2025, 11:17:52 PM
Love UNF but not sure this is a project a cash strapped city should be funding.
Love UNF and think that this is a cool project that I've got no problem with the city supporting.
That said, I do think it goes against the spirit of the CBA to draw down almost 10% of the CBA's workforce development balance for this project.
Does it technically count as workforce development to train college students to play video games professionally and try to compete for one a few thousand "competitive gamer" jobs that exist domestically, largely outside of Jacksonville? I don't know, maybe.
Is this why the CBA was created? I'd argue no, and that the funds should be used according to a larger strategic plan to uptrain disenfrachised local populations with the hard skills necessary to succeed in this city and make Jacksonville a more equitable, safe, and productive place.
Litmus test to me is: "If I am living in a distressed community with few opportunities and being asked to help bankroll a $1.4 billion stadium for the better-to-do with my tax dollars, does [Project X] make me feel better about that sacrifice."
Affordable housing? Yep. Homeless support? Yep. A new community center offering trade classes? Sure. A fancy esports arena for UNF students to learn how to "game" professionally? To me, it's a no.
Less concerned about this specific project, more concerned about the CBA being tapped for pet projects without a publicly available strategic framework for its highest and best use in the spirit of which it was created. With the general fund stretched very thin for the next couple of years, there will be lots more temptation to tap the CBA.
Yeah, this is a great project. UNF doesn't ask for much, and when they do, they always knock it out of the park. This is a perfect example of them finding a way to build on things that are already working and making it top notch, in a way that benefits not just them but the whole community. I don't understand the justification to count this as part of the city's CBA contribution, but that's the just how it goes with this political environment unfortunately. In terms of ROI, it definitely stands on its own.
Some City Council members reek of hypocrisy. Keep in mind this Council has approved millions to hundreds of millions to developers and one of the richest people in the world, but can't allow less than 1% of the City budget to be invested in money saving services to the down and out. Further, the Council committee wants to preserve $9.4 million for the Council members' "slush fund" that has previously been allocated to a number of "conflict of interest" causes.
Based on the below quotes, I will let you decide who the leading hypocrites are:
QuoteCarrico calls Deegan 'elitist' on taxes. She says he 'cheers' axing help for people in need
The Jacksonville City Council's Finance Committee stripped millions of dollars for affordable housing and healthcare from Mayor Donna Deegan's proposed budget in order to carry out the committee's goal of lowering the property tax rate.
The cuts have already put the Finance Committee and Deegan at odds after two days of hearings on her proposed $2 billion budget.
Deegan said she hopes the full City Council will have "less performers and more statesmen" for decisions on the budget. City Council President Kevin Carrico said Deegan is "out of touch and elitist."
"Maybe it feels performative to someone who gets chauffeured around by a taxpayer-funded driver and doles out six-figure salaries to her friends, but it sure doesn't feel that way to the working-class residents I represent," Carrico said Aug. 8.
Deegan said Carrico's "disingenuous and divisive statement" supports her point about performers versus statesmen.
"People across the city are hurting while he cheers on millions of dollars in cuts to programs that make housing more affordable, reduce homelessness, and improve healthcare access," Deegan said.
Deegan proposed a $2 billion budget that keeps the property tax rate at about $11.32 per $1,000 of taxable property value. The seven-member Finance Committee, which gets first crack at the budget, voted to cut the millage rate to about $11.19 per $1,000 of taxable property value, which would trim the city's total property tax collections by around $13 million.
The owner of a $200,000 home with a homestead exemption would pay about $19 less at tax time under the Finance Committee's rate than with Deegan's proposed rate.
Council committee pulls plug on Jacksonville telehealth service
Deegan, who founded the Donna Foundation that raises funds for breast cancer research and treatment, made improving access to the city's health care system a major plank in her campaign for mayor.
The biggest health care-related increase since she took office in July 2023 has been the city's subsidy for treating poor patients at UF Health Jacksonville. The city provided a $40 million subsidy in the final year of Lenny Curry's term as mayor. Deegan and City Council boosted that to $56 million in the current budget and Deegan proposes the same amount next year.
But Deegan's other health care initiatives have met opposition from the Finance Committee. City Council member Ron Salem said Deegan is going beyond what the role of local government should be.
"I'm seeing health care creep in this budget that we need to roll back because if we don't now, we're going to have big problems going forward," Salem said.
The Finance Committee eliminated $2.1 million Deegan sought to continue Healthlink Jax, a telehealth program that gives residents who lack health insurance a way to call a hotline connecting them with doctors for virtual care. The pilot program also can set them up with doctors for non-emergency appointments if they don't need to go to the emergency room.
Telescope Health CEO Matt Thompson, whose company has a contract with the city to run Healthlink Jax, told the Finance Committee last month the service costs money on the front end, but it keeps uninsured patients from going to the emergency room for high-cost treatment that eventually drives up costs for paying patients.
"In reality, this is a true DOGE program in the health care setting," he told the Finance Committee, referring to the acronym for the Department of Government Efficiency that's been used by at the local, state and federal levels.
Salem said if the telehealth service really saves money for hospitals on uncompensated emergency room treatment, hospitals should be paying for the service, not the city.
Other health care cuts by City Council included the JaxCareConnect program created by the Duval Safety Net Collaborative that refers people for care to a network of community clinics. Deegan sought $1.75 million for it. The Finance Committee cut it to $500,000.
City Council member Michael Boylan, who is not on the Finance Committee, said funding the JaxCareConnect clinics helps keep uninsured residents from turning to costly emergency room visits for their care.
"Let's stop the cycle," he said in arguing against the Finance Committee's cut. "We found a better solution to dealing with indigent care and that solution is getting these people out of our ERs, getting them to a primary care service."
Council erases money for housing a second year in a row
For the second year in a row, the council's Finance Committee eliminated millions of dollars that Deegan proposed for housing programs. This year, the cuts total $7.8 million for programs aimed at helping people finance the purchase of homes, get rental assistance to avoid eviction, and move from homeless shelters to housing.
Joshua Hicks, the city's affordable housing director, told the Finance Committee a previous round of city funding for the programs helped tackle the affordable housing crisis.
"It's designed to remove the very barriers keeping residents from staying in their homes, building new ones or buying their first," Hicks said.
He said Jacksonville has a shortfall of 50,000 housing units for households at or below 50% of the area's median income. He pointed to a recent University of North Florida poll that shows the cost of housing is the number one concern among Jacksonville residents.
City Council member Rory Diamond, who voted against the funding, said the programs are a case of drawing money from all taxpayers and then "picking and choosing a small handful of people with a ton of money."
He compared it to Deegan's proposed $280,000 for a dental care program, which the Finance Committee also cut, that Diamond said would have served a small number of residents "and the rest of Jacksonville gets toothpaste."
Committee keeps $9.4 million for council's 'strategic initiatives'
While City Council made cuts to programs proposed by Deegan, council left untouched a $9.4 million pot of money that council would be able to use during the 2025-26 fiscal year for "strategic initiatives" that council has not yet identified.
Deegan included that funding in her proposed budget at council's request.
Diamond, who is pushing for an even bigger property tax rate cut than what the Finance Committee approved, wants to eliminate the $9.4 million in order to allow more property tax relief. Arias said in an interview that the money controlled by City Council should remain.
"The budget is a $2 billion budget so to leave $9 million in there for council strategic priorities, I don't think is a tall ask," Arias said. "I think if anything, that should stay there and we should identify other items to remove from the budget."
The Finance Committee will have four more meetings through Aug. 22. The committee's recommendation then will go to the full City Council for a vote in September. In the run-up to the final vote on the budget, Deegan plans to have a series of town hall meetings after Labor Day.
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2025/08/11/mayor-deegan-and-council-finance-committee-battle-over-budget/85584552007/?tbref=hp
We're very much still in the early innings of a weeks-long game at this point, so hopefully things will change when more of the reasonable council members have a voice and not just this one committee. Or as the mayor put it, hopefully we see more from the statesmen and less from the performers.
QuoteCity Council member Rory Diamond, who voted against the funding, said the programs are a case of drawing money from all taxpayers and then "picking and choosing a small handful of people with a ton of money."
I was incredulous when I read the above quote. What does Diamond think when the Council approved incentives and subsidies to Khan, developers, business investors, etc.? How small a handful of people is that, that all of us taxpayers are loading with a ton of money? Khan, alone, has received dozens of times the amount of money that the Council Finance Committee is gnashing hands over currently.
Diamond is just another clout chaser. Lying and bloviating is his standard operating procedure. Everyone I know sees right through him.
Maybe he should try showing up for a council meeting once in a while.