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A.G. GancarskiAugust 28, 2015

The Inspector General budget got a look from the Finance Committee of the Jacksonville City Council on Friday. Less interesting than the budget was the performance of the IG on the stand. Councilman John Crescimbeni and the new Inspector General had several exchanges that left the longtime councilman less than impressed. There were times when the […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 28, 2015

A red-hot Friday session of the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee budget review included an conversation about Jacksonville Transit Authority revenue that got to the heart of the fractious relationship between City Council and Jacksonville’s independent authorities. Councilwoman Lori Boyer held forth with an extended address about the local option gas tax as part of a […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 27, 2015

Thursday morning’s Jacksonville Finance Committee budget hearing is set to include a potpourri of departments. The first big talker was the budget for the Talent Management program, related to a tuition reimbursement program of $125,000 for Jacksonville Fire and Rescue promotional requirements. That led Councilman John Crescimbeni to ask whether it was part of collective […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 26, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee continued its budget reviews on Wednesday afternoon. Documents were sparse in terms of change recommendations from Council Auditor Kirk Sherman, yet with the Jacksonville City Council, the potential is always there for lively discussion. The discussion of the Court budget, with Chief Judge Mark Mahon, was notable more for its […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 26, 2015

On Wednesday morning, the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee considered the Capital Improvement Projects Budget. As these things go, it was not a spectator sport. The big story: the Liberty Street issue, described as “unsightly” and the consequences of “deferred maintenance” by Council President Greg Anderson. The Liberty Street Collapse was a big talking point for Lenny […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 25, 2015

The highlight of the agenda meeting before Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting: a discussion of a potential appeal of the Property Appraiser budget (2015-616). “The success of this” sort of action is “nominal at best,” said Matt Schellenberg, referring to exchanges that he had with the Florida League of Cities. Schellenberg, of course, was not driving […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2015

After fireworks erupted Friday morning when spirited discussions took place over the capital improvement budgets for the Jacksonville Electric Authority and Jacksonville Transportation Authority, city council members expected the afternoon session would go more smoothly, if only by default. Councilwoman Lori Boyer mentioned that the JTA local option gas tax discussion was especially contentious. Meanwhile, reports […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 19, 2015

On Wednesday afternoon, a special committee on Public Service Grants was convened by the Jacksonville City Council. Chaired by Anna Brosche, the committee included Councilmembers John Crescimbeni, Sam Newby, Katrina Brown, and Reggie Gaffney. At issue was a scoring process that charitably could be called “subjective.” Groups had scores that were all over the place. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2015

The last Rules Committee meeting of the Jacksonville City Council in August had an appointment-heavy agenda, yet there was room also to address two major issues. Included on the agenda: 2015-508, which increases fines on unlicensed contractors to bring it in line with state recommendations; and 2015-522, a bill addressing emergency roadway clearance and post-disaster […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2015

Last week during the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee budget review process, the public service grants process was described as a “broken system.” The grants committee, which has 13 slots, has seven mayoral vacancies. Vacancies are not the only problem. Questions were raised during a Monday public notice meeting to examine the PSG process about […]

Tag: Anna Brosche

Jax Inspector General underwhelms in budget hearing

JTA, Jax Council Finance Committee spar over funding, Skyway

JFRD tuition reimbursement under fire at Jax Finance Committee budget review

Jax Finance Committee looks at regulatory compliance, debt affordability

Liberty Street fix highlights Jax CIP budget discussion; Finance backs 2 year plan

Property appraiser budget emergency appeal falls at Jax Council meeting

Jax Finance committee approves JTA and JAA budgets

Jax Public Service Grant panel member argues system is broken

Contractors, disaster prep on agenda in Jax Rules committee

Jax public service grants process under scrutiny