Unsustainable development pattern continues to lose city money

[thelakelander]

The only way to turn things around in the long term will be to plan and implement future development in a more efficient manner, to control spending.  Property tax generation isn't going to cover the growing expenses associated with maintaining a spread and sprawled out urban development form.


Jacksonville's revenues worrying council auditors

Jacksonville City Hall’s balance sheets for the first quarter of this budget year aren’t looking great, says a report from the City Council Auditor’s Office that found many city funds “are financially challenged.”

The city’s general fund, its largest, was projected to take in $5.1 million less than originally forecast for 2012, according to a report circulated Wednesday. Most of that was because of shortfalls in property taxes.

Although the city also is spending less than expected, the fund still projected to have a $1.3 million shortfall.
Out of another 29 funds the auditors checked, eight were running lower on money than expected.

“We are concerned regarding the cumulative negative effect of these sub-funds on the overall financial condition of the city,” the report continued.

Also, more cuts on the way at city hall:

City considering trimming staff, other cuts totaling $20 million
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-02-17/story/city-considering-trimming-staff-other-cuts-totaling-20-million

[peestandingup]

I guess its difficult to get off the "sprawling growth teet" when you've been at it for so long. Nah, we'll just cancel some more fireworks displays & other "wasteful" things like that. Maybe cut back the bus services to 2 hours instead of 1 on weekdays, and run twice a day on weekends. We gotta keep this train wreck a movin! Growth-based jobs & such!!

[mtraininjax]

Forget the freaking plans, we need jobs NOW, without them, the communities will continue to languish and all your ideas will remain on paper without a way to pay for them. Get people the jobs to pay for your projects! And do it now!

[thelakelander]

Question.  How do you just go out and get jobs?   A public entity even has to plan a strategy for that.  It's not exactly like companies are begging to create thousands of new jobs on the sake of this being Jacksonville.  To a degree, individuals also have to be willing to take a risk on perhaps starting their own businesses to put food on their table.

[JeffreyS]

Simple Lake you have a Mobility Fee Moratorium to promote more sprawl development which is expensive and unsustainable so you end up in a cash crunch and need jobs now so you give away more to promote more sprawl  because you can't change at this moment because you need jobs now so encourage more unsustainable growth that will need to be paid for with more poorly Planned growth you can't change because jobs will be such a priority and only radical sprawl growth will provide the jobs that we can't afford and we will try to pay for it with a Wendy's on the edge of the county. The rambling run on nature of the prior sentence is an om-age to the last few decades of Jacksonville's growth.

[mtraininjax]

To a degree, individuals also have to be willing to take a risk on perhaps starting their own businesses to put food on their table.

After seeing all the For Lease signs all around town, the building owners would agree with you, but so far the people are not willing to take the risk.

[thelakelander]

Perhaps some are.  There's tons of traditional and non traditional services that can be rendered without a brick and mortar facility.  Here was a nice story a few days ago in the Times Union:

http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/food-and-dining/2012-02-14/story/working-first-coast-driftwood-bbq-food-trucker



If anything, COJ should be modifying its regulations to allow for more small business development.

http://jacksonville.com/business/your-money/2011-07-14/story/food-truck-craze-faces-roadblocks-around-jacksonville

[mtraininjax]

There's tons of traditional and non traditional services

I agree, that was a nice story, but how many jobs does "tons" translate to here in NE Florida? Can a Food Truck Business support more than 5 people? With gas/diesel approaching $5 by summer and food prices and all transportation items rising, is a Food Truck a sustainable job?

What does the great chamber have planned for traditional and non traditional job training for 2012? They mayor? Outside Athens GA, Catepillar is planning to build a 200 million dollar plant and add up to 1,400 jobs due to the fact that the Port of Savannah has better prospects on the horizon than the port of Charleston.

What is worse is that the State of Georgia Department of Economic Development stated “Our pipelines are as full as they’ve ever been,” adding that advanced manufacturing will continue to be a heavy focus throughout the next decade or more.

So with little hope for competition with other states for manufacturing, little hope for 1.2 billion to dredge, and little more than a gas stop on the way to Orlando, what do our leaders in Jacksonville prepare us to become, other than a tag line of "Where Florida begins?" I still feel like Brown is caught in the hangover from Peyton.

[thelakelander]

I don't necessarily disagree with the points you've made.  However, I don't think its reasonable to expect someone else to find a job for someone at an individual level.  For example, when architectural industry went down the drain here, I was in the process of relocating to a community with a stronger architectural industry but eventually switched industries and stayed in Jax.  If I sat on the couch waiting for COJ to attract a large architecture firm to Jax, I'd be one of the people in Hemming Plaza everyone is trying to run out now.  If you're starved and you got a skill, find a way to take advantage of it, even if it means having to relocate.

[mtraininjax]

If you're starved and you got a skill, find a way to take advantage of it, even if it means having to relocate.

Agreed, if you are really, really good at a skill, you have to go where there is work for that skill. The problem most Americans have now is that they cannot afford to leave or sell their house since it is under water and the average length of a short sale is 6 months, if the bank approves the deal.

Whatever you find and do, you need to be passionate for sure!

[Ocklawaha]

Behold the future?

OCKLAWAHA

[Captain Zissou]

I was thinking about the metjax crazies that have populated this forum in the past, and I found this loosely applicably nugget of truth from one of the greats.  Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Bostech:

Getting job is more about connections then skills.Unless you have some crazy skills to show very unlikely you will get job based on that alone.
Now knowing manager or someone inside company is better trick then any other resume.
Make friends with people in companies and that will give you better chance in getting and keeping job.Sell yourself,be a politician.

[Ocklawaha]

"Hi, my name Peggy..." At least we know where he went. LOL

[Captain Zissou]

"Hi, my name Peggy..." At least we know where he went. LOL

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Too True!!!!!!!!