Jacksonville’s pension woes might be a step closer toward being solved after Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed Mayor Lenny Curry’s sales-tax extension plan into law.
Passed by the House and Senate in recent weeks, the bill allows Jacksonville voters to decide on extending a half-cent sales tax that would go entirely toward paying down the city’s more than $2.6 billion in unfunded pension liabilities.
Scott had a due date of Saturday to veto or sign the bill or allow it to pass without his signature. He signed it a day early along with 67 other bills.
The tax essentially would replace a half-cent sales tax expiring in 2030 and in place for Better Jacksonville projects. The pension tax would be effective for 30 years or until the plans are 100 percent funded, whichever comes first.
It still has a few steps to go, though.
Next up is City Council, which must sign off. More than a dozen have shown early support and went to Tallahassee with local business leaders the day the House approved the bill.
If council were to ratify its support, it would then be up to voters — quite possibly the toughest sell. Essentially, they would decide to impose a tax on themselves to solve the issue. If they did, unions affected by the plan would need to sign off through collective bargaining.
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