Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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

The Jacksonville City Council special ad hoc committee on Neighborhood Improvement and Community Enhancement discussed, as did Finance earlier on Monday, 2015-322, which Chief of Staff Kerri Stewart called a “three-year strategy” for fund allocation for affordable housing programs. Councilman John Crescimbeni asked Stewart interesting questions about Mayor Lenny Curry being on the Housing Commission, noting a “lot […]

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 […]

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 14, 2015

Finance Committee Chair Bill Gulliford removed his prop bottle of Advil from his desk before the Friday session. Perhaps that was too optimistic a move. The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee budget hearings on Friday morning started off with interesting exchanges between Sam Mousa and John Crescimbeni about Fire and Rescue structural issues, before going into a discussion of […]

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, […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 13, 2015

The Thursday afternoon Jacksonville City Council Budget Review began, as the council auditor presentation continued with a lively discussion of public service grants. The morning session is here. 1:20: Councilman Tommy Hazouri is annoyed by a lack of clarity on these from Rashanda Jackson, chairwoman of the Public Service Grant Council. John Crescimbeni goes on to outline a […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 13, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee Budget Hearing Day One commenced with the administration overview, then a bracing 165-minute romp through capital improvement projects with Council Auditor Kirk Sherman. As the old song goes, “Let’s get this party started right; let’s get this party started quickly.” Overall, it was a very smooth session, with minor […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 11, 2015

As the new Jacksonville City Council settles in and bills wend their way through committees, Jacksonville City Council meetings haven’t truly heated up as they will during September’s budget deliberations. However, Jacksonville’s City Council is always a hotbed of entertainment and public interest, and Tuesday evening’s Council conclave was no exception. The Hemming Park funding […]

Tag: Lori Boyer
Image via AP.

Jax Finance committee approves JTA and JAA budgets

Jax NICE Committee mulls housing, “junk cars”

Jax public service grants process under scrutiny

Council, Curry administration joust in Jax Finance Committee

Jax Council debates library budget, hours

Fireworks at Friday morning Jax Council budget hearings

Jax City Council Budget Review: Sheriff’s Office

Jacksonville Council budget review: Public Service Grants

Jax Council budget review morning session addresses UF Health, other issues

Jax City Council approves Hemming Park deal 18-1