The Jacksonville Aviation Authority plans to amend its fiscal year 2024-25 budget to cover emergency repairs and rebuild part of the hourly parking garage at Jacksonville International Airport after a May 16 fire caused major damage to the structure.
Sponsored by JAA, Ordinance 2025-0663 would allow the authority to use $4 million in insurance proceeds and $5.6 million from retained earnings for emergency work. Another $7.6 million would be transferred to operating capital outlay.
The ordinance was introduced at the City Council’s Aug. 26 meeting and referred to its Finance, Rules and Transportation, Energy & Utilities committees for further discussion.
The Rules Committee will be first to consider the ordinance on Sept. 2.
The ordinance also creates a new $38 million capital project, Hourly Garage Rehabilitation, including $30.4 million in anticipated insurance proceeds. Funds appropriated under the ordinance will carry over into fiscal year 2025-26.
No city funds are requested.
At a June 18 board meeting, the authority reported that the fire caused no deaths or injuries. Several cars were destroyed, and 37 flights were canceled as emergency responders battled the blaze.
The cause of the fire was confirmed as started by a BMW X3 hybrid SUV.
At the board meeting, JAA said it will demolish and rebuild the southern portion of the garage affected by the fire, a project expected to take up to 18 months.
he fire took 500 spaces offline, which will result in about $3.7 million in lost revenue, according to JAA Chief Finance Officer Ross Jones. Cotton Global Disaster Solutions handled damage assessment, stabilization, demolition and vehicle removal.
Progress on a new third garage under construction on the airport’s east side will be unaffected and is expected to add 2,000 spaces when completed in June 2026.