• In addition to Mayor John Peyton’s proposed $972 million budget, a couple of other big budgets were made public this week. The Jacksonville Aviation Authority plans to submit a 2008-09 fiscal year budget of $132.85 million, an increase of 8.61 percent from last year. The JAA budget includes 251 full-time positions. The Jacksonville Port Authority plans to submit a 2008-09 fiscal year budget of $656.85 million, an increase of 89.69 percent due primarily to the new cargo terminals and shipping contracts. The Port plans to employ 165 people on a full-time basis.
• Speaking of the Port, its budget was submitted by acting CFO Michael Poole. Former CFO Ron Baker resigned recently.
• The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island is taking advantage of the “Florida Restaurant Lending a Helping Hand” act that went into effect July 1 to fight hunger in the community. The new law provides liability protection for licensed restaurants contributing perishable food to charitable organizations. The 444-room oceanfront resort serves more than 1,500 meals per day and each night, members of the resort’s culinary team package untouched leftover food that is then picked up by volunteers, who process it for distribution according to federal health regulations. Individual meals are distributed to the Barnabas Center, a USDA-authorized food pantry. Some of the food is also served following a weekly church service at the Salvation Army Hope House.
• Staff change at WJCT. According to president and CEO Michael Boylan, Vice President of External Affairs Carla Marlier has been let go due to budgetary reasons. Boylan said he will handle all future communications from the station that includes Ch. 7 and FM-89.9.