Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 24, 2016

What if someone called a press conference and Jacksonville City Council “public comment” broke out? That was the scene Wednesday as a half-dozen opponents of County Referendum 1 — the so-called “pension tax” vote, which would extend a current half-cent sales tax past its current sunset date in 2030 and devote it to the $2.85 billion […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 23, 2016

If County Referendum 1 passes in Jacksonville, unlocking a sales tax extension dedicated to the city’s $2.8 billion unfunded pension liability, Mayor Lenny Curry says collective bargaining could be done within months. “My plan is to have it done by spring,” Curry told a crowd at the Chamber’s ImpactJax event Monday evening. The timeframe is intended, Curry […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 19, 2016

There is nothing quite as interesting and larger than life than a 20th century Jacksonville mayor. And nothing amusing in quite the same way as seeing two of them in a parking lot. Riding to a “Yes for Jacksonville” event at the Eastside’s Mary Singleton Center with Councilman Tommy Hazouri, we noticed a SUV parked provocatively by […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2016

For the first time perhaps ever, an initiative of former RPOF chair and current Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is being packaged as “progressive.” A “Yes for Jacksonville” mailer bills County Referendum 1, which would extend a current half-cent sales tax devoted to infrastructure from 2030 to as far out as 2060 to deal with the current […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2016

On Wednesday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry pitched County Referendum 1 — which would authorize a half-cent sales tax extension to address the city’s $2.8 billion unfunded pension liability — to the Southside Business Men’s Club, where one of his most recurrent political opponents is a member. After the March 2015 first election, when the endorsement of […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 16, 2016

Relying on Corrine Brown to guide your vote on Jacksonville’s County Referendum 1? You might want to consider a different resource; she’s got nothing to say on the matter. Rep. Brown’s “Quick Picks” leave the ballot option blank. When asked about her take on the referendum for the “pension tax” on Monday, she delivered a “no […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 16, 2016

Those who have waited for opposition to Jacksonville’s proposed “pension tax” are finally seeing it manifest, just in time for early voting. With oppressive humidity in the air and a non-affiliated crackhead milling around the parking lot engaging with the media, the Duval Democrats made their stand against Jacksonville’s County Referendum 1 in a parking […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 16, 2016

State Sen. Audrey Gibson voted to authorize Jacksonville to have a ballot referendum to extend the current half-cent tax devoted to infrastructure past its 2030 sunset date to address the unfunded liability. She even co-introduced the bill. But that’s the last vote she’ll cast for the measure. On Monday night, Gibson saw her name on the […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 15, 2016

“I’ve heard it loud and clear tonight. People don’t trust the government. People don’t trust City Council. I heard it tonight; a gentleman said he didn’t trust me.” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has two weeks left to sell County Referendum 1, which would secure a dedicated revenue source (and an actuarial solution) for the $2.7 billion […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 15, 2016

The critics wanted the mayor to debate them on the pension tax referendum. And on Monday afternoon they got their wish. The agenda at the Jacksonville Rotary Club included two opponents of Jacksonville’s County Referendum 1, which would (if passed Aug. 30) allow for the extension of the current half-cent infrastructure tax past 2030 (when […]

Tag: pension tax referendum

Jax pension tax opposition limps to campaign finish

Lenny Curry: if pension referendum passes, collective bargaining will be quick

Jake Godbold calls on ‘army’ of seniors to support pension-tax referendum

New ‘Yes for Jacksonville’ flyer calls pension-tax referendum ‘progressive solution’

Lenny Curry sells the pension tax to Southside Business Men’s Club

Corrine Brown releases Quick Picks, passes on pension-tax vote

Duval Dems slam ‘sham flyer,’ ‘smoke and mirrors’ pension tax

After flyer flap, Audrey Gibson comes out against Jax pension tax

Pushback for Lenny Curry’s pension-tax plan at northwest Jacksonville town hall

Lenny Curry confronts pension tax critics at Rotary meeting