A.G. Gancarski
From Aug. 13 through 15 second-term Jacksonville Councilman Matt Schellenberg attended the Florida League of Cities Annual Conference in Orlando, representing Jacksonville. All but two of Florida’s 412 cities are in the league.
In a memo to Council President Greg Anderson, Schellenberg made an interesting observation about the state government.
“There is universal agreement within the organization that we (the cities of Florida) are tired of the unfunded mandates coming from Tallahassee,” the Mandarin Republican wrote.
“Jacksonville must, as a city, engage in much more conversation with Tallahassee regarding the mandates that are crippling city finances,” Schellenberg added.
Given that Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has prioritized lobbying Tallahassee both in a personal capacity and as a $150,000 budget line item, it seems the Curry administration shares Schellenberg’s desire for “more conversation.”
Schellenberg is also poised to be a catalyst for an expanded role in the League of Cities.
“Our city, Jacksonville, is the largest city represented, and three times the size of the next largest city. Because of this, we should have more influence in setting the agenda, policies, and direction of this organization. It is imperative that Jacksonville become more involved in the Florida League of Cities, and to that end, I was recently appointed by the League to the League’s Board of Directors,” the councilman wrote.
“In this role, I will have more opportunities to further the interests of our city, and ensure that we have a say in the lobbying efforts, policy decisions, and agenda items of the League going forward.”
