http://www.jcci.org/projects/reports/2009CityFinance.aspx
Last week, JCCI released a study titled Our Money, Our City: Financing Jacksonville's Future. Some have called it a wake-up call. Others have described it as a city in financial crisis. There's no doubt, in looking at pages 21 and 22 of the report that we spend far less on basic city services than any other city our size in Florida. A few questions:
1. Could it be that Jacksonville really is so much more efficient than every other government in Florida that we can provide great service at the lowest per capita cost (as compared to our peer cities)? Or is the revenue base so low here that we just don't provide very good service?
2. Can you always do "more with less" as the efficiency mantra goes, or does there come a point at which you have to do less with less?
3. If we have to do less with less, what should the local government stop doing? What services should we stop providing? What community facilities should be closed?
4. Given that the property appraiser has projected a $4 billion reduction in our tax base for next year (resulting in less property tax revenue), what's the best way to balance the budget...cut expenses exclusively? Raise revenue? Or a combination of the two?
5. Shifting away from expense cuts and the basics of budget balancing for a moment, should we have a discussion about substantive investment in our city...from increasing the frequency and level of basic city services (parks maintenance, for example) to investments that increase our city's quality of life. And, if so, how would we do that? Where would the money come from?
Look forward to the dialogue...
Stephen -- Right at 50 percent for police and fire.
All very good questons from Mr. Hollingsworth, and thanks for asking.
I think some comparisons with other cities is in order before you can surmise answers to those kind of questions. I would assume the study has those, but I will need more time to read it and see for myself.
If our police response time is comparable to other cities then I would say we are efficient, if our response time is double and our funding is smaller relatively speaking, I would say that we are not efficient but rather underfunded. You get the idea.
While 50% for Public Safety is a large percentage, you have to look deeper than just that. How much of that is spent on pensions versus salaries for cops that are actually patrolling? How much is spent on the jail versus cops on the beat? Same question of administration? A different city might spend less in total, but still have more cops on the beat because it spends less on administration and the jail.
I learned a long time ago that you can say just about ANYTHING you want with numbers, all the while being technically truthful.
It's all in how you slice and dice those numbers. The entity compiling the numbers has their own agenda most of the time, and the numbers will push that agenda in most instances.
Doing less with less is not an option...it is time that the people of Jax (and FL and the US for that matter) realize that all the stuff they want costs $....and, sure there is waste in government, just like there is in the private sector...but as I've said in other threads, everyone's definition of wasteful spending is different.
What Jax needs to do is look for additional revenue sources long-term....growing the economy so more gets raised from business and sales taxes needs to be Priority #1....JAXPORT and Cecil are good steps...now let's expand our medical industry and also look at growing our convention/tourism industry (as a boon for downtown).
Second needs to be keeping as much future growth in Duval County as possible...and more specifically in the urban core neighborhoods....the infrastructure costs will be minimal, and will be more than offset by the increased revenue from property taxes.
Finally, Jax. needs to stand up and make it known that things that are beneficial to our region's outer counties may not be best for the city....the Outer Beltway is a perfect example...if new long-term jobs are created, they go to Clay County, not Jax.
You're right Vic.. as the saying goes: There's Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics.
tufsu, you and I agree on this one. What I think needs to happen no matter what is more transparency. Taxpayers deserve to know where their money is going.
Adam, you guys are going to need to give somewhere. I'm willing to pay more taxes, but first I better see you making a valiant effort to cut some waste downtown. I hate to bring it up again, but you could have reworked a more efficient courthouse for less money; gone vertical and then sold off some land to offset costs. You guys are going to have to be willing to piss off a few people, i.e. judges, developers, your friends, for the good of the city. I'm being honest with you, cause frankly I'm sick of the BS. You can cut some of the new money going to widening roads and you better cut off all city funding for new subdivisions out in the middle of nowhere. Our city continues to pay for new infrastructure in the swamps while the urban core rots. There are also some city programs that need to go. If the money is not being spent wisely, then the program needs to go, and yes it will hurt a few people, but stick with it. The city should not act like a non-profit charity.
If you can make an effort to do this, then come to me (us) and say. Look, we need to reinvest in upkeep of our city parks, we need to continue to grow our urban core, we need a new convention center (on the old courthouse site I hope ;) ) We want to improve the quality of life for our citizens. This is what we need and this is where the money will go and yes, we have bid everything out and come up with the most cost effective and still high quality estimates for these projects.
Many of these things we want and will be willing to sacrifice for, but you have to get us to buy in. Right now, many, many good young and old citizens of this city are not real happy with city government. And we are the citizens you want to keep, because we are still spending money and still paying our mortgages, and still attending theatre performances and art walk, etc. But many of us have kind of had it. I'm just being real with you.
Well said, brainstormer.
Quote from: tufsu1 on June 16, 2009, 09:26:21 PM
Doing less with less is not an option...it is time that the people of Jax (and FL and the US for that matter) realize that all the stuff they want costs $....and, sure there is waste in government, just like there is in the private sector...but as I've said in other threads, everyone's definition of wasteful spending is different.
I totally agree here. To me it seems as if some Jacksonville areas forget we're consolidated and provide services throughout the county, not just the more desirable neighborhoods. They may feel a lack of connection to these big projects downtown, or roadway improvements in the ICW. Residents in Mandarin may think that because their population is higher than say Maxville, they deserve to keep their parks and community/senior centers open and well-maintained. But because we include every part of Duval, we really need to keep services open and available to every neighborhood.
And doing that costs money...more than we generate currently.
And I know some may complain that we don't need certain services because they're not maintained well or don't apply to them directly. Maybe we don't need newer community services, but we DO need to enhance and maintain those we currently have that are successful. Take the senior centers, for example. I'm not a senior, and I don't think many of you are either (but we all will be someday), but having visited a few I know how popular they are. They are a vital part of daily life for many elderly in Jacksonville. For many, this is their only outlet away from home. Yet some were threatened with closure last year due to budget shortfalls. Fortunately they were spared - but there is a severe lack of maintenance. Many seniors who visit actually volunteer serving meals, helping plan activities, and cleaning up the buildings and light groundskeeping. The centers are every bit as important to them as city hall, and probably more so. Yet looking at the structures themselves you can see evidence of neglect; interiors, while decorated with pride by the center members, need many repairs that would be responded more quickly to in a prominent city building.
I'm not saying those are the main or only things that need attention, but they are obviously overlooked. Everything gets overlooked at some point. Do I think we can cut some things out? Well, if we have to provide the services, we can't cut service altogether. Maybe we need more community involvement and assistance... not just from hearings but maybe we can encourage volunteerism for park cleanups and the like. We need to have pride in our city above all else.
I feel that we've been trying to do as much as we can with less for too long. And many things we take for granted are showing a failure in that concept. We can't afford to keep the quality of living that we DO have, much less improve it, without generating greater revenue. Residents all over the city must realize that.
Using the figures in the JCCI Report, IN MY OPINION the best options to raise money include: increasing franchise fees from 3% to 5%; increase services charges by 5%; request more from JEA; and adjusting the millage rate as it could've been done a year ago when the state budget cuts were passed. These seem to be the quickest to enact.
I agree with brainstormer. This city administration is ridiculous. They cry and whine about needing more money for things and then come up with new fees meanwhile they're trying to give away no bid contracts, gave millions to developers who did nothing (shipyards, courthouse project, cameron kuhn, jax seafood etc..) so of course the citizen taxpayers cry foul! We're short of funds, but hey lets fly to Paris for the airshow, meanwhile trash lines the streets, medians are unkempt and vagrants walk like zombies downtown where street lights with defective poles have tattered banners falling off. So yeah, when you guys at the St. James building stop with the BS and giveaways for your "friends" and pet projects like the orwellian "jacksonville journey" we the citizens might do more than just laugh everytime you propose something. Until then expect us to be skeptical when we see your mouth moving.
Adam, below is a link from my home state/county. This type of action would go a long way in gaining back some of our trust, and I believe it would save the city millions and millions of dollars.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/latest/455283
The courthouse will end up costing us much more than we anticipate, Don Moran is a dictator, we did not have a dictator when building the library, ballpark or arena. The city caves too much to Moran. Time for Adam and John to grow a pair and stand up to Moran. Do something for the City with the last 2 years you have left. Don't leave us hating the decision to bring in Peyton and run the city as a business.
Quote3. If we have to do less with less, what should the local government stop doing? What services should we stop providing? What community facilities should be closed?
Adam, you failed to mention that one of the most imp findings of the JCCI study was that
the City hasn't defined what services it should be providing to the public and at what level. Article 2 of the Charter of Jacksonville needs to be updated, benchmarked, and measured. Without this, I don't see how the City can analyze its budget needs, and determine if it is adequately providing services?!?!?
I will say this, Jacksonville is seeing in an influx of residents from other parts of the country. In my community alone, the following cities are represented by transplants: Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, NYC, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Austin, Phoenix, Denver, Boulder, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and San Diego. There is also international representation in my community, and it seems I meet people weekly that have relocated from other cities to a variety of areas in Jax. Other cities have their problems, too, but I hear many transplants lament they have found much disappointment here in city leadership, policy and vision.
This influx of "people from away" should be seen as an opportunity to gain input on practices from elsewhere that work, and craft a govt/city that can feature the best of everywhere. Instead, Jax's GOBs continue along outdated paths, think inside their boxes, and stick their head in the sand that change is here/coming, and Jax is being left behind.
Trash/Recycling services are some of the worst I've ever seen (and I was foolishly optimistic when I heard a woman from San Diego had been hired to give input -- wonder if she is still in Jax?) Parks/Recreation, other than those in private developments and paid for by HOAs, are the worst I've ever seen (and, again, I was foolishly optimistic when I'd heard a Seattle voice was invited to give input -- that didn't work out, either, due to hiring freeze). I have also been told Parks and Rec's budget is the one that most often gets arbitrarily appropriated by Councilmembers and the Mayor's office (hmmm, Metro Park/Friendship Fountain?)
Quote4. Given that the property appraiser has projected a $4 billion reduction in our tax base for next year (resulting in less property tax revenue), what's the best way to balance the budget...cut expenses exclusively? Raise revenue? Or a combination of the two?
Re: prop tax, we all know Save Our Homes has been a disaster for Jax (thanks, Charlie). See this thread re: alternative solution: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,5201.0.html (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,5201.0.html)
Quote5. Shifting away from expense cuts and the basics of budget balancing for a moment, should we have a discussion about substantive investment in our city...from increasing the frequency and level of basic city services (parks maintenance, for example) to investments that increase our city's quality of life. And, if so, how would we do that? Where would the money come from?
I don't think this can be answered without having some definitive decisions made about question #3. But I can tell you Jax falls far short compared to other cities in maintenance of its outdoor recreation spaces.
Here's a radical idea: there are 6 planning districts in Jax. What if they were set on a 6-year rolling schedule to receive discretionary budget focus (at least 50% of CIP, Stormwater fee). The CIP and Stormwater are so politicized in this town, it is ridiculous -- and this knowledge that these expenditures are influenced by lobbyists, politician's personal relationships, unspoken Councilmember vote trades, and big developer dollars is a big contributor to public distrust. A rolling schedule would be fixed, and developers would be put on the schedule regardless of their political contributions, relationships or lobbyist spending. In this situation, there is no "legacy" problem or arbitrary-ness to the spending, and no citizen could gripe they shouldn't pay taxes/fees because they don't get spent in their area.
I don't know if this could work somehow, and the planning district order would have to be determined strategically based on regional goals (also not politicized), but it's just a thought. Perhaps there are other areas of the budget to which this could also be applied.
Anyhow, Adam, thanks for the dialogue/interest. I look forward to being invited to a meeting/public input session ;).
Jacksonville residents get little value for money.
1) The courthouse maximized cost, while minimizing contributing architecture. Money well wasted.
2) The new plan for Metropolitan Park is wasteful and poor urban planning. Greenspace exists with abundance in the core. There's no tax base or attractive regular use in "flex space." Invest smarter in the decaying greenspace infrastructure in place (Klutho, Met Park, Friendship Fountain area).
3) Re-vamp "Town Center" street-scape projects so that they actually promote urban walkability and business development.
4) Main St. Pocket Park: never do another worthless project like that park. Money saved. Successful pocket parks increase the tax base by addressing pedestrian needs, business frontage, and retail.
5) Trail Ridge Landfill and guaranteed revenue parking garages: How exactly does the city commit itself to such lopsided contract terms without corruption or less-than-savy legal counsel?
6) Roadway expansion is not a comprehensive development scheme. It is better to direct private, city, state, and federal funds to comprehensive, rail-based transit planning and tranist oriented development. It's a smarter investment in Jacksonville's future.
7) Slim offices that require large expense with little return, like parking. Smart meters were a good step. Now eliminate expensive metering vans, overenforcement costs, and 9/10ths of all meter maintenance and replacement. Rip out meters --especially on underdeveloped streets downtown. Off set minimal ticket loss with downtown development.
8) Get better and smarter about obtaining and accepting Federal funds.
9) Pay city workers enough to attract the best and brightest to key positions like urban planning, general counsel, lobbying, etc. Spend less in Mayor's office on stupid PR stunts and commercials to convince the public the landfill or the courthouse is a good idea.
Listen to "outsiders" from cities that have overcome tough problems and made things work. You don't need fancy trips, or expensive studies, talk to the people in the MSAs that look the most like us and see what they have done. Call the last two mayors of Nashville, the Lousiville planning department, Charlotte's transit planners.
Right now, one of the city's biggest problems is that it thinks that the only way to trim cost is to pinch a penny. While it's immediately effective, it ignores that spending a little today can mean huge recoup from tax revenue. This city under-utilizes smart-growth incentives that have proven effective elsewhere.When they are used here, they tend to benefit developers and not a comprehensive development plan for the city. Bad government, bad planning -- plain and simple.
Agreed, Vicup (above), on the need to more carefully assess current expendatures, especially in the 50% for public safety. I've lived elsewhere where that number was closer to 30% and the police and fire workers were better paid and comprehensive anti-crime measures were more effective.
I hate that the mayor's office is already setting up the "less with less" straw man for public consumption.
New here. Live in NYC, originally from South Fla went to school in Gainesville and may be headed to Jax in the not to distant future. Have been to downtown Jax less than a handful of times, mainly to the Landing Fla-GA and to a couple Jags games. Have driven through a few of the neighborhoods, Riverside/Ortega, Mandarin. Downtown in my best memory seems "sleepy", felt like the whole thing could go away and nobody would probably even notice. Has no feel.What is so perplexing is the seemingly wasted opportunity at every turn for a city with so many natural advantages, (river, proximity to beaches, port, climate). Not asking for a book but I would rally appreciate some feedback about the obstacles. From briefly reading through some of the blogs it seems reasonbale to say most here are less than satisfied with the local government/city planning folks. Is Peyton that bad? I have read a lot of great ideas for urban core revitalization, assuming Even the densest at city hall have seen the same so why the inertia? In what order would you place the challenges facing urban core renewal out of government, transportation, private investment, other? As I stated above to me the lack of a conscious feel is a problem right off the bat. With geography and culture you would expect there to be a restaraunt/bar scene with a kind of New Orleans/Nashville mix. Where is it? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Concerning Peyton, the Mitsui and Hanjin deals were clinched on his watch. These deals represent some of the biggest things to happen to Jacksonville in a long time. The effects will be felt long after Peytons term is up.
In addition, this year school test scores are up and murders are down, so some things are improving.
As far as development downtown goes, there is constant competition from the suburban areas, which consists of most of Jacksonville. In addition, the new outer beltway will open up lots of easy-to-develop land so this competition will not go away anytime soon. Northeast Florida is blessed, and cursed, with lots of easily developed land.
The gripping on the blogs is a result of a complicated picture. Many issues are purely local, but many others are either state issues or state influenced issues. The recent property tax cut, the increased power at the state level, and the pressure this applies to local government revenue is an example. The city has introduced various fees in an attempt to raise targeted revenue, and that has been very unpopular, especially due to the number of people it affects.
I've lived here for almost 15 years, and the most frustrating pattern is the way that so many things are never followed through to completion. Some examples are the courthouse (though that may finally be make it to completion), the Skyway, and the various big downtown development projects that have fallen apart for various reasons.
Raise Property Taxes ONLY if the VALUES decrease. The Property Appraisers office is full of crazy people who will not look at the values of the houses, even if it is a foreclosure. So you have bank people who ask for foreclosures in EVERY appraisal, and a Property Appraisers office who does not recognize foreclosures as "real values".
That is bad government.