by David Chapman
Staff Writer
The pushback on Mayor Alvin Brown’s budget initiatives continued Thursday when the City Council Finance Committee eliminated the creation of his proposed Office of Education Commissioner.
In his proposed budget, Brown slotted the office to be located in the Office of the Director of the Recreation and Community Services Department and have two positions: Education Commissioner Donnie Horner, who is on loan from Jacksonville University for $1 a year, and an administrative assistant to be hired for more than $59,000.
Original budget documents show the office would have proposed revenue of $250,000 and expenditures of $82,655. The latter figure originally contained items such as office supplies, but administration and budget officials said the expenditures would only be for the administrative position salary.
Both the anticipated revenue and salary would be privately raised with no taxpayer assistance, Chris Hand, Brown’s chief of staff told the committee.
Several Council members had issue with the overall creation of the office.
“This is why we said we don’t do reorganizations with a budget,” said Council Vice President Bill Bishop.
“There are too many moving parts to create something that’s not there before,” he said.
Bishop said he supports the mayor’s order of reorganization, “but this is not the way to do it.”
Hand contended that the office was one Brown campaigned heavily upon and disagreed with the idea of it being part of the reorganization.
Bishop disagreed and said it’s a government entity and the best way to do it would be to include it in a comprehensive reorganization plan.
Council member Clay Yarborough agreed with Bishop and said the office duplicated other processes. It was not one of the core functions Council needs to be engaged in, Yarborough said, referring to other organizations charged with education enhancement and oversight.
“I don’t believe this is needed,” he said.
Hand introduced Horner to the committee, then Horner discussed the four goals of the proposed office: engage the community, advocate for education on all levels, partner with the community and act when needed.
Hand suggested the issue could be put below the line, but the committee took the Council Auditor’s recommended action and eliminated the office from the budget.
Despite the action, Hand was undeterred.
“The mayor will have an education office,” he said.
Asked later if the administration would seek support from other Council members to create a potential floor amendment when the full Council meets to pass the budget, Hand said, “I think you can count on that.”
Horner said he will continue to work in the role for the mayor and be “an army of one” for now.
If approved, the administrative assistant position wouldn’t be hired until after the fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
Hand and Brown spokesman Abel Harding both said Horner already has had an impact within the community in the role and was a driving force behind raising funds to save JROTC in several high schools when budget shortfalls threatened the programs.
Also from Thursday’s all-day budget sessions:
• The courts system budget was reviewed and one item in particular generated discussion. A $65 court fee on felony, misdemeanors and traffic offenses split four ways was analyzed for each recipient, but one drew Council concern. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid receives its portion at the beginning of the year, the Council Auditor’s Office said, before the fees have been collected. When faced with a shortfall, it creates a hole made up from other City revenues. That action began in 2004 and totals about $231,000. Council members put the item below the line and discussed potential actions to recoup that money. The Council Auditor recommended that JALA receive funds from the fee on a quarterly basis. The committee approved the recommendation.
• Computers and other equipment purchased for the new Duval County Courthouse were questioned during the day. Council members, including Bishop, believed such items should have been covered as part of the $350 million to build the courthouse. Bishop requested a list of all additional Courthouse-related items coming to Council for approval. Council member John Crescimbeni also had questions. “Where do we draw the line of what goes into the new Courthouse and what doesn’t?” he asked.
• Council members had specific questions about Jacksonville Transportation Authority management costs, bus budgets, ridership costs and numbers and the ongoing hot topic of the Skyway. “Why are we still operating this unit?” asked Finance Chair Richard Clark. Michael Blaylock, JTA executive director, said the system has not exceeded its life span and would require federal payback if shut down. He said Downtown revitalization, which includes more people living and working in the area, would help ridership numbers and its use. “We’re finally seeing a little light Downtown,” Blaylock said. “We’re not ready to give up on the Skyway, yet. If you believe in Downtown Jacksonville, it will come back, watch.”
• With the rain forcing the Jacksonville Sharks celebration inside City Hall, it created some lighter moments. Beginning with the Medical Examiner’s Office at 5 p.m. and followed by the JTA discussion, chants, noise and music from the rally permeated Council Chambers. “I can hear them out there. They’re very excited we are about to start again,” joked Clark following a five-minute break “They’re chanting ‘cut that budget, cut that budget.’”
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