Public safety officials lobbied for stability and the head of an influential civic organization called for more revenue to help correct the City's pension issue Wednesday, the first day a community-based task force reviewed Mayor Alvin Brown's pension reform proposal.
Brown last week formed the 11-member Jacksonville Retirement Task Force, led by attorney Bill Scheu, who called Wednesday's 4-hour meeting a "good foundation" for the group's work over the next month or longer.
Members of Brown's administration presented the group details of a 17-year deal that proposes to save $1.2 billion over 30 years, including $45 million in the fiscal 2013-14 budget Brown will present Monday to City Council.
The City is currenting facing a $64 million budget shortfall, with plans to eliminate 120 positions.
In addition, the pension proposal would nullify $27 million in budget cuts for the fiscal 2014-15 year, reduce City plan contributions by $100 million over the next five years and secure the City's credit rating, Chris Hand, Brown's chief of staff told the task force.
The credit rating argument was introduced after Fitch Ratings, a global rating agency, on Tuesday highlighted the City's pension issues that "could pressure" its bond ratings should reform not take place.
Sheriff John Rutherford and Fire Chief Marty Senterfitt spoke to the group after the City presentation.
Rutherford said the pension issue and budget cuts have resulted in the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office becoming a "breeder agency" for other departments in the U.S. and that resolution is needed.
Senterfitt also called for stability, telling the task force the unsettled pension debate has affected recruitment, employee retention, morale and operations.
After his presentation, Rutherford said that with his department facing $29 million in cuts, he would have to lay off "hundreds" of police officers — an option he refused, saying it would be a "violation" of public safety.
"I'm not going to make a $29 million cut," he said.
He said Council should pass the pension reform plan under review.
During his presentation, Senterfitt said a proposed $10 million to $12 million budget cut in his department would be "catastrophic."
Rutherford said the City "would have to find some other answer" to finding cuts and said he supported an increase in the millage rate, a stance he has held in past budget years.
Jacksonville Civic Council Chairman Steve Halverson also told the group additional revenue — and not just cuts — are needed to help solve the pension issue.
Halverson followed the public safety officials in addressing the task force, offering highlights of a review the Civic Council performed on the pension reform plan and the opinion that Council should not approve the measure.
Titled "We Must Do Better," Halverson's presentation largely mimicked a letter sent to Brown and City Council President Bill Gulliford in late June that said the presented plan "makes substantial progress" but "isn't enough."
Civic Council concerns include a failure to solve the plan's unfunded liability, the 7.25-percent rate of return the City has guaranteed, the length of the plan and the costs associated with still-included perks such as Cost of Living Adjustments.
Halverson said the Civic Council, a group of about 60 business and civic leaders, are advocating for higher taxes as part of further "shared sacrifice" needed to resolve the deficit.
"The plan does not face the inescapable reality that new revenue is needed," Halverson said, later adding: "This is the time to have a complete conversation and a complete solution."
Brown was elected mayor on a platform of not raising taxes. David DeCamp, his spokesman, said that has not changed and a tax increase will not be a part of Brown's budget proposal. He said the administration will continue to work with the sheriff's office in the coming days on its budget.
Scheu said after the meeting the task force is scheduled to meet July 31 to hear more presentations, including one from the Police and Fire Pension Fund, before convening in August to compose recommendations for the plan.
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