Mayor Alvin Brown submitted two tentative budgets Monday addressing pension reform, both with double-digit deficits.
The administration must present a balanced budget by July 15 to City Council.
The Council continues to review the mayor's proposed Police and Fire Pension Fund reform plan, Ordinance 2013-366, and requested two budget proposals to reflect one with the pension deal and one without.
With pension reform, the mayor predicts a deficit of $18,863,593. The deficit takes into account about $45 million in savings projected from pension reform.
The proposed budget without pension reform reflects a deficit of $63,971,895.
"While the ultimate size of the operating deficit will depend on the resolution of police and fire pension costs, the City of Jacksonville budget picture shows some signs of improvement from last year's final budget," said Chris Hand, the mayor's chief of staff.
The budget shows a revenue increase from $947 million to $950 million, even though property tax revenue is projected to drop by about $9 million.
Both of the proposed budgets have the mayor holding to his promise of not raising taxes. Preliminary budget information has the mayor proposing a tentative millage rate of 10.353 mills.
JEA continues to be one of the largest contributors to the budget with $109 million presented to the City, up about $2 million from last year's budget.
Public safety continues to be one of the largest expenses in the budget. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is scheduled for about $360 million and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department will receive about $181 million in the proposed 2013-14 budget.
@photojoe71
(904) 356-2466