by David Chapman
Staff Writer
The dust has settled on the months of City budget discussion and meetings.
Close to two weeks following the marathon City Council session that resulted in a approved millage rate and 2010-11 City budget, Council President Jack Webb has made the rounds to discuss the process and what challenges lay ahead for future budgets.
While Webb met with several media outlets, his first intimate setting with the public came Friday when he was the guest speaker for The Civic Round Table.
“We all knew there would be no easy answers in this budget,” said Webb to the forum of civic organization leaders.
He told the group of his political history and set the stage for how he and his Council colleagues approached Mayor John Peyton’s proposed budget. A $45 million gap was filled with a millage “roll up” rate that, if passed, would have increased property taxes about 9 percent to stay revenue neutral with 2009-10.
The millage rate brought passionate debate and discussion among the public and Council members alike, said Webb, along with much “general anger” during the process. Regardless, Webb said he was proud of the work of the finance committee and entire Council, as more than $4 million in savings was found and applied toward lowering the tax rate.
“Dollar for dollar, we’re collecting less ad valorem taxes this year than we did last year,” said Webb.
But after passing the nearly $1 billion budget, Webb said the dependency on ad valorem taxes is flawed, given the sluggish economy negatively affecting growth and property values.
Instead, Webb said, new revenue streams need to be found, and he has an idea for one: a general consumption sales tax.
The tax, said Webb, could be a hybrid plan for Duval County that would allow for a scaling back or potential elimination of the property tax combined with the general consumption sales tax that would capture revenue from outside the county.
Many people work in Duval County but live in other counties and receive the benefits that homeowners fund, he said. A general consumption sales tax would alleviate that burden.
“We’re not capturing that lost revenue,” said Webb.
Webb said he has spoken with political leaders and will continue to reach out to members of the Duval County legislative delegation and others on the issue, though he admits it is more of a long-term solution.
“It’s going to take assistance from Tallahassee,” he said.
While the book is closed on the latest budget, Webb said an early look at next year’s budget projects a $40 million shortfall that will be difficult to tackle. While he won’t be president during the final vote, Webb said he’ll continue reaching out to the public and organizations like the Tea Party for their ideas on how to approach the challenge.
For those who advocate nothing but spending cuts, Webb said cuts have already been made the last two years and further cuts could potentially alter Jacksonville’s quality of life and reduce the tax base – two things he doesn’t want to see happen.
“We can go year to year but we can’t cut our way out of this,” he said. “We’re already cutting into bone.”
Webb said the time he’s spent talking the public following the budget meetings has been positive and he’s looking forward to hearing future budget ideas.
“I’m hopeful,” he said.
Other notes from Webb’s meeting at The Civic Round Table:
During the question and answer portion of the meeting, the question of pursuing a state income tax as a revenue source was asked. Webb’s response? Not a positive one. “It’s been very nice speaking with you this afternoon,” he told the group and laughed.
Webb had a question for one of function’s attendees as well. Following his discussion of budget difficulties, he jokingly asked Jim Robinson, a candidate running for Council At-Large Group 4, why he wanted to be a City Council member. His reply? “After Tuesday night (Sept. 28 Council meeting), I almost changed my mind,” joked Robinson.
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