A.G. Gancarski
On Tuesday, Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg laid out some grievances about the “meek and mild” Duval County Legislative Delegation in the Florida Times-Union.
“The most alarming and damaging issue is the additional Homestead Exemption. If passed by the citizens of Florida in the August 2018 election cycle, it would chop off about $27 million annually from our city’s general fund,” Schellenberg noted.
“The last time the Legislators increased the homestead exemption by $25,000 dollars, Jacksonville introduced a franchise fee, a garbage fee and a stormwater fee. In fact these fees are substantially more regressive than the ad valorem tax,” Schellenberg added.
While Schellenberg took issue specifically with the “crumbs” brought home for Jacksonville, and got spirited pushback from three members of the Duval Delegation, there is serious concern in Jacksonville City Hall about the impact of raising homestead exemption.
One concerned party: Councilwoman Anna Brosche, chair of the Finance Committee and one of two current candidates for the Council Presidency (to be decided by a vote of councilors on Tuesday afternoon).
“I’m concerned about such large impacts on the budget,” Brosche said Wednesday morning, adding that she is “trying to understand the changes.”
When asked if a millage rate hike might be a fix, preserving the tax base from property taxes, Brosche was non-committal, saying “when we get to that bridge, we’ll figure out how to cross it.”
Brosche very well could be the next Council President; she trails current VP John Crescimbeni 7-6 in the pledge count, with six councilors holding out for reasons only they know.
