by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Mayor Alvin Brown’s proposed $962.5 million balanced budget is now in the hands of City Council, which will vote on it by the start of the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Brown promoted the budget, presented Friday, as one that relies on shared spending reductions among government entities instead of tax and fee increases and tapping reserves.
“On May 1, Jacksonville faced a projected budget deficit of nearly $58 million,” Brown told a standing-room only crowd at City Hall. “Today, that deficit stands at zero.”
Brown’s inaugural budget, which comes in at more than 400 pages, is one he said will “lay out a vision for where I want to take Jacksonville.”
“Let me be very clear. No taxes, no fees, no (raising the) millage rate, no touching the reserves, zippo,” he said in an interview late Friday afternoon. He said he “presented a balanced budget, so we don’t have to do any of those things. Promise made, promise kept.”
Brown’s budget includes the creation of four departments in the areas of education, public private partnerships, Downtown development and sports and entertainment.
Brown also said he would create nine mayoral advisory councils. The councils, newly budgeted for either $12,000 or $13,000 each in the coming year, will focus on Downtown, military affairs, neighborhoods, quality of life, seniors, the port, youth, education and workforce development, and small business and entrepreneurship.
The “shared sacrifice” spending cuts among departments and programs include Jacksonville Fire and Rescue ($1.8 million), the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office ($1.3 million), Jacksonville Journey ($1.7 million), the Jacksonville Children’s Commission ($1.2 million) and Jacksonville Public Libraries ($905,000).
The proposed budget also includes 225 job cuts. Council President Stephen Joost said after the presentation that the figure includes more than 100 vacant positions. Brown also said many were mayoral appointees.
Joost said Brown’s initial offering was a good start and that by proposing a balanced budget with no taxes or fee increases it would “make the process much easier” for Council members.
Joost credited Brown for pursuing the “shared sacrifice” and government reorganization that he has advocated during his early days as Council president.
He said his initial reaction was favorable.
Council member Richard Clark, who will chair the Council Finance Committee, said he applauded the mayor on his initial effort that didn’t increase taxes or fees.
“It’s a good start,” he said.
Clark said he wanted to delve into the details to look for other savings and to see the structure of the newly created departments.
Several other Council members also said they wanted to fully review the budget before issuing an opinion, but like Joost and Clark, said it was a good starting point.
Council member Jim Love, one of several new Council members, said he thought Brown “did a great job” but also said it wouldn’t deter him from looking for ways to negate some of the cuts.
“The library is one thing I will be looking at,” he said. “I have some ideas on my plate that could maybe help them out.”
Council will have several weeks before the Oct. 1 start of fiscal year 2011-12 to review and amend Brown’s budget before approving a final plan.
Clark said he was looking forward to the public comment at public workshops and budget hearings.
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