by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The final numbers for the 2009-10 fiscal year budget are in and despite the doom and gloom and cut and slash atmosphere that surrounded the weeks-long budget hearings, net property tax revenue for the current year is actually up over last year.
According to a recent report issued by the Council Auditor’s Office, ad valorem tax revenues will increase over the 2008-09 year by 3.4 percent with new construction accounting for 2.67 percent of the increase.
Excluding the independent authorities — JEA, JTA, the Jacksonville Port Authority and the Jacksonville Aviation Authority — the budget approved by City Council in late September was $2.053 billion, an increase of just over $50 million from last year. With the budgets of the independent authorities included, the City’s overall budget is $4.552 billion, which is $916.6 million less than fiscal year 2008-09.
On the staffing side, Council approved 8,019 positions, which is an increase of 43 from last year. Of that increase, 163 are within the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office budget, there are 12 new positions in the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and 14 positions in the Public Library system were restored after being initially cut. Also, the City absorbed 21 new positions when the Tax Collector’s Office took over the issuance of drivers licenses from the State.
Other budget highlights, according the report, include:
• Over $100 million in the general fund for pension costs. The City’s pension contribution rate for the General Employees’ Pension Fund increased from 10.43 percent to 13.5 percent and that fund was budgeted at $18.4 million.
The City’s contribution to the Corrections’ Officers plan increased from 17.16 percent to 31.78 percent and is budgeted at $9 million.
The City’s contribution to the Police & Fire Pension Fund increased from 32.11 percent to 49.6 percent and was budgeted at $79.8 million.
• The City budgeted $87.5 million for health care.
• The Sheriff’s Office general fund increased by $16 million, from $339.6 million in fiscal year 2008-09 to $355.6 million this year.
• The Fire & Rescue general fund increased by $11.1 million, from $153.1 million last year to $164.2 million this year.
• The City budgeted $146 million for capital improvement projects and other $11.2 million for stormwater projects.
• The City has $41.6 million in its Emergency Contingency account. However, this money cannot be spent without City Council approval.
Other budgets of note:
• Public Works — $79.6 million
• Solid Waste — $67.8 million
• Recreation and Community Services — $51 million
• Information Technology — $46.3 million
• Public Libraries — $41.7 million
• Fleet Management — $37.8 million
356-2466