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A.G. GancarskiAugust 28, 2015

Jacksonville’s flawed Public Service Grants process got yet another review from the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee on Friday afternoon. Councilman John Crescimbeni again spotlighted the lack of funding, and how many of the organizations toward the bottom of the funding matrix suffer because of a lack of funding. The total request for all organizations: $3.78 […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 28, 2015

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It seemed the Tommy Hazouri proposal to rebuild the Jacksonville Library system by restoring hours in challenged neighborhoods would meet with approval from the finance committee on Friday. Then, Councilman Matt Schellenberg spoke up, wondering why there is no “preference to one or two of the libraries” in his Mandarin district, which have been “excluded” from this proposal. […]

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 25, 2015

From Aug. 13 through 15 second-term Jacksonville Councilman Matt Schellenberg attended the Florida League of Cities Annual Conference in Orlando, representing Jacksonville. All but two of Florida’s 412 cities are in the league. In a memo to Council President Greg Anderson, Schellenberg made an interesting observation about the state government. “There is universal agreement within the organization that […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 25, 2015

The Tuesday Jacksonville Electric Authority Special Committee meeting, which was promised to be a short one with “cleanup” from unaddressed points from the previous agenda, seemed like it would be uncontroversial enough. It began with a discussion of surge protectors. Councilman Bill Gulliford mentioned that Florida Power and Light is running a deal where they offer […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2015

Heart, hypertension, and workers’ compensation were talkers in Jacksonville City Council chambers on Friday at the Finance Committee’s budget hearings. About 82 percent of heart and hypertension and worker’s comp claims are coming from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. “In the past, the problem was that JSO and JFRD […]

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 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 18, 2015

On Tuesday morning, the Jacksonville City Council Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety committee tackled a few bills of note, amidst an agenda heavy with deferrals. The main point of intrigue: 2015-322, which has been a point of contention in both the full Council meeting last week and committees on Monday. 2015-322 promotes a […]

Tag: Matt Schellenberg
Paula Stark is hosting Buenaventura Lakes' 'first-ever' event to honor veterans.

Finance adds $608K to Jax PSG funding for 6 agencies

Tommy Hazouri Jax library rebuild proposal survives Finance budget review

JTA, Jax Council Finance Committee spar over funding, Skyway

JFRD tuition reimbursement under fire at Jax Finance Committee budget review

Matt Schellenberg reports that Florida cities “tired of unfunded mandates” from Tallahassee

Sam Mousa says JEA, Jacksonville “treat each other like strangers”

Heart, hypertension, workers’ comp issues of concern in Jax budget process

Jax Finance committee approves JTA and JAA budgets

Contractors, disaster prep on agenda in Jax Rules committee

Jax RCDPHS committee moves affordable housing bill