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A.G. GancarskiSeptember 25, 2015

On Thursday, when walking to Jacksonville’s City Hall, I talked with a couple of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue personnel (in separate conversations) who were pretty happy about the Jacksonville City Council’s decision, made on a second vote, to take $320,000 from the stormwater fund and put it toward maintaining the positions of 17 district chiefs. […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 15, 2015

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council’s Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee (RCDPHS) hosted heated discussion on a surprising matter: the amended and restated Equestrian Center contract, which was approved in Finance on Monday without any particular drama. Schellenberg questioned Alberta Hipps, former City Council president and advocate for all things Westside, who was […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 8, 2015

The Tuesday night Jacksonville City Council meeting was expected, for the most part, to be quiet. The principal drama of the budget is forestalled until Sept. 21 meeting, and the big talker, going in, was expected to be the Police and Fire Pension Fund’s senior staff retirement plan. In the wake of the retirement of Police and […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 3, 2015

Freshman Jacksonville City Council Democrats Katrina Brown and Reggie Gaffney have at least a couple things in common. They both serve on the Finance Committee, which just approved the municipal budget on Wednesday afternoon. And they both plan to counterprogram Week 4 of the NFL Preseason, which includes extended action from Tim Tebow with the Philadelphia Eagles, with […]

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 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 17, 2015

“August is a tough month if you’re on Finance, because you’re keeping up with your regular council work and the Finance Committee meetings,” Greg Anderson said Monday, providing a preamble to the regular Finance Committee meeting. There will be a special committee on public service grants, Anderson said, and in about two weeks there will […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee battled Friday morning with officials over the perpetually embattled Jacksonville Public Library budget. The budget increases by 0.4% this year, yet the Council’s asks go well beyond that modest uptick. Discussions included whether or not “merit pay” or “equity pay” was part of the proposed budget increases. Councilman John Crescimbeni […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 13, 2015

Two budget reviews from the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee to go on Thursday. The firs, and the most important: the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. 2:39 p.m.: John Crescimbeni mentions that more than 15 COPS Grant employees not being part of the General Fund as not being “transparent” in terms of budgeting. Bill Gulliford predicts that after three years, […]

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Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Did text messages sway the Jax City Council firefighter pay boost vote?

Jax rec panel grills Alberta Hipps on Equestrian Center funding

Jax Council refers PFPF Senior Staff retirement plan legality question to Finance

Two Jax City Council town halls on Thursday evening

JFRD tuition reimbursement under fire at Jax Finance Committee budget review

Property appraiser budget emergency appeal falls at Jax Council meeting

Jax Finance committee approves JTA and JAA budgets

Council, Curry administration joust in Jax Finance Committee

Jax Council debates library budget, hours

Jax City Council Budget Review: Sheriff’s Office