A.G. Gancarski
Jacksonville lawyer John Winkler is one of the most outspoken opponents of extending the half-cent sales tax to deal with the city’s unfunded pension liability. To that end he has mobilized, with a political committee, a ubiquity in comment threads, and on Tuesday, he threw down the gauntlet to debate.
“I hereby offer you a public opportunity to try to make your case in the face of our well-reasoned opposition at 7 p.m. on Aug. 9, 2016 at the Salem Centre, 7235 Bonneval Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32256,” Winkler wrote in a letter to the mayor’s office.
In the letter, Winkler makes an interesting claim, that Curry and he “were tentatively scheduled to appear together at the WJCT Town Hall forum set for Aug. 11, until you pulled out. That forum was cancelled due to your refusal to attend.”
The mayor’s office disputes this read.
“Please know that the mayor did not cancel participation in the WJCT Town Hall due to Mr. Winkler. In fact, we were never informed that Mr. Winkler or anyone else would be participating. WJCT provided us with a date of the 18th that we reserved. Days later, they came back with an alternate date of the 11th that posed a conflict. We were hoping that the later start time would accommodate his schedule but it did not,” wrote Marsha Oliver, Curry’s spokeswoman.
“We have not engaged in any debates about pension reform. Mayor Curry has developed a comprehensive solution that provides a dedicated revenue source to address and resolve the city’s pension debt,” Oliver adds.
The scheduling request is currently being reviewed, Oliver added, the standard procedure for event requests.
Regardless of the mayor’s participation, Winkler will be on hand. However, coverage may be inhibited by the reality of a crowded news day, as U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown has a federal courthouse appearance late in the afternoon and Jacksonville’s City Council meets that evening.
2 comments
John S Winkler
August 5, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Another ubiquitous comment: http://www.nojaxtax.com and http://www.just-vote-no.com
Hilton T. Meadows
August 5, 2016 at 12:34 pm
The Mayor’s presentation is factually and deceptively incorrect. The existing Better Jax Plan Surtax cannot be extended. Its legal status requires it to be entirely depleted for the payoff of the Better Jax Plan Debt by 1 Jan 2030. Too, it is in the wrong legal taxation category pursuant to Chapter 212 Florida Statutes to be used for Pension Fund payment. Under the Mayor’s proposal, the Pension Fund debt will grow to at least 1/2 larger by 2030 when the first payment can be paid on it. So, over 13 years, if passed, the debt’s interest will accrue and compound the enlargement of the present debt. Furthermore, the Mayor fails to tell the Public that the debt is for three (3) Delaney and Peyton mismanaged employee Retirement Pensions not just the Police and Firefighter’s Pension Fund. His Proposal is not a solution!! It just pushes an ever enlarging debt 13 years down the road when he and others are out of Office. Do not be deceived!!!! VOTE NO, NO. A new 1/2 cent sales tax is possible to commence payment on these deficits within 15 months not 14 years from now.
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