A.G. Gancarski
As FloridaPolitics.com reported on Wednesday, legislation authorizing the Jacksonville referendum to extend the 1/2 cent sales tax to address the unfunded pension liability was filed Wednesday.
That’s not the only move made on the pension referendum front.
Yes for Jacksonville, a political committee designed to make the case for the extension of the Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax, has been formed in Duval County.
The treasurer, Eric Robinson, is a familiar name to those who read fundraising reports on the GOP side.
This committee’s expenditures and contributions will be of great interest headed into the Aug. 30 referendum, which is critical to Jacksonville’s financial future.
Jacksonville’s pension outlay is $260 million per annum, and is only going up, consuming a quarter of the operating budget. The pension funds are meagerly funded, with the Police and Fire and Correction Officers’ pension funds both below 50 percent funded.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s emergency audit in 2015 identified pension as the pressure point that threatens the city. Curry has pledged to invest his political capital in getting this passed. Now, the race is on to get buy in from voters.
Yes for Jacksonville will handle the operational capital needed to make that case.
