Funding for the city’s initiative to eliminate blight in neighborhoods could have a dedicated source of funding if City Council enacts legislation outlined Wednesday by council member Bill Gulliford.
He’s a member of the Special Ad Hoc Committee on Jacksonville’s Neighborhood Blight and has been studying how the city could use about $1.5 million that’s been sitting dormant in the Vacant Property Registry Fund.
“It’s a revenue source we can count on year after year,” Gulliford said.
Since 2010, holders of mortgages on foreclosed properties have been required to register the property with the city and pay a $150 fee. Community Champions, a Melbourne-based firm, collects the fee, retains 50 percent to administer the program and gives the other half to the city.
More than $2.5 million has been sent to the city since the program began. Funds are used to help homeowners make mortgage payments, mortgage counseling and to cover some of the city’s cost for maintenance of vacant properties.
About $1.5 million remains in the account. It has not been used based on an opinion from the Office of General Counsel that since the funds are collected as a fee rather than a tax, the money may only be used to benefit those who pay the fee.
It’s time for that to change, Gulliford said.
Some municipalities that collect vacant property registration funds deposit the fees into their general funds, but Gulliford supports using the revenue for a specific purpose.
He plans to introduce a bill on behalf of the committee to earmark the balance in the fund and future collections to mitigate blight and restore some neighborhood improvement programs.
Since 2006, several city programs that supported neighborhoods have been eliminated due to budget cuts, including “Neighborhoods” magazine.
“Seeds of Change,” which brought together neighborhood organizations, residents and business leaders to make Jacksonville safer and more livable, was defunded in 2007.
A matching grant program available for improving public property in neighborhoods also was eliminated due to budget cuts, Gulliford said.
Restoring the programs using the registry fees would benefit all neighborhoods, not just areas with high rates of foreclosure.
“It’s a community issue,” said Gulliford.
Committee Chair Denise Lee agreed the legislation should be introduced and directed Gulliford to have it ready for review within 30 days.
Lee said it’s an issue she wants to get through the standing committees and up for a vote by the full council before July 1, when the 19-member body will have at least 10 new members after the general election.
@DRMaxDowntown
(904) 356-2466