Money for downtown diverted in order to pave more roads

[fieldafm]

Thanks to Richard Clark and Robin Lumb this morning in Finance Committee.

DIA's money has been transferred from DIA to CIP accounts in order to pave roads.

Really positive step in our city's history today at the hands of the always forward thinking Council members getting paid by NEFBA and road lobbyists.

You wouldn't need to steal the money from downtown if you two weren't DEAD SET on waiving mobility fees...

[CityLife]

Was just about to post the same thing...http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-08-09/story/jacksonville-council-panel-wants-take-back-9-million-reserved-downtown

A Jacksonville City Council panel acted Friday to take back $11 million set aside for economic development projects, saying that money may be needed to cover big-ticket bills in the 2014 budget.

The largest piece, $9 million, had been earmarked for projects involving the city's Downtown Investment Authority, though none had been spent yet.

Downtown boosters said just knowing the money was there had helped focus developers' interest, and they wanted to hang onto that.

"If you can, just let the money sit there, because it's creating some buzz," Investment Authority member Mike Saylor appealed to members of the council Finance Committee.

Saylor said later there had been "momentum building for a downtown renaissance," and that the Investment Authority couldn't let losing that money derail it. "The real end game is the strength of our commitment to succeed," he said.

By a 4-3 vote, the committee recommended moving the money into a new council reserve account for capital projects, the high-dollar projects like roadwork that are supposed to create lasting value.

Councilman Richard Clark, who proposed the change, said he was surprised the money hadn't been reclaimed already.

Has Aundra Wallace signed his contract yet?

[duvaldude08]

I swear this city is getting absolutely no where quickly. Born and raised native, have a home here and will forver live here. I love my city, but man they are a bunch of ass clowns. When this nightmare will end who knows. 

[Cheshire Cat]

As the stomach turns. In keeping with this little ditty, I wonder how many realize that last year, funding that was collected as a "stormwater fee" and supposedly dedicated to that use alone, was also diverted to another effort?  This continues and city officials cannot understand why the public doesn't believe anything they say or promise.  By the way peeps, that stormwater fee was attached to your property tax bill.  It is simply taken from you when your taxes are paid.  Is dealing with our stormwater a problem?  You better believe it is however if the money to deal with this issue is diverted we are doing nothing to address the problems posed by water runoff in our community.

Now we see this as a result of how the mobility fee was "mishandled" in order to please special interests in the building community.  Wasn't there an issue on another thread having to do with money from another source being cut that was intended for roadways?  Someone help me remember. 

[thelakelander]

To be honest, this is not surprising.  It's our history and until we're ready to not accept stuff like this politically, we'll keep circling the wagons.

[dougskiles]

I'm not convinced that this $9 million was ever DIA's to begin with.  When it passed City Council the first time it was made clear that each proposed use of the money would have to go back to City Council for specific approval.  And that it very well could be swept back in.  I was hoping that we would have already seen some proposed uses for it by now.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Was just about to post the same thing...http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-08-09/story/jacksonville-council-panel-wants-take-back-9-million-reserved-downtown

...

By a 4-3 vote, the committee recommended moving the money into a new council reserve account for capital projects, the high-dollar projects like roadwork that are supposed to create lasting value.

Absolutely SMH....   

[jcjohnpaint]

Clark and Lumb's pockets just got a little fatter!   

[JFman00]

Could they at least use some of it to fill in the pothole everyone swerves around on W Adams right before Stuart St?

[carpnter]

What did you expect in this town?  The Mayor won't submit a realistic budget and you have a large group of very vocal people against taxes in any shape, form, or fashion.  They mayor is too busy worrying about re-election instead of what is best for the city even thought it is unpopular.

It also wouldn't surprise me if the finance committee did this to send the mayor a message that his pet projects are not immune if he isn't going to do his job when it comes to the budget.

[tufsu1]

Has Aundra Wallace signed his contract yet?

from what I hear his start date is August 19th

[Cheshire Cat]

Has Aundra Wallace signed his contract yet?

from what I hear his start date is August 19th

I wonder what they plan on using to fund DIA initiatives now that the 9 million has been pulled?  They did set aside money for Wallace's salary, but that's it.  Wonder where the DIA goes from here?

[icarus]

So we have a well paid Downtown Czar with no kingdom.  I wonder if the politicians actually expect him to do anything or if his appointment was simply a nod of sorts to appease those pushing for urban revitalization.

Regardless, this native is shaking his head in continued disappointment.

[jcjohnpaint]

Do we not have council members who serve downtown as a district?  Does Clark run this city? 

[thelakelander]

Downtown is in Redman's district.