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A.G. GancarskiJune 29, 2016

The Jacksonville mayor’s office budget reviews continued bright and early Wednesday morning, with the city council’s budget subjected to the tender mercies of Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa and Chief Financial Officer Mike Weinstein. There was little controversy. And in the case of the council, look for increased spending. And look for John Crescimbeni to, at long last, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2016

The office of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry reviewed the Planning and Development budget Thursday. Facilitating the review were CAO Sam Mousa and CFO Mike Weinstein. The highlights: A spirited discussion of “performance measures” led off the meeting, regarding permits. Weinstein: “You don’t have any influence on how many permits you ask for, but you have influence on how many […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 22, 2016

The parade of departmental budget reviews in Jacksonville’s Mayor’s Office continued Wednesday with a consideration of budgets for the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA). The highlights: A discussion of public parking, now under the purview of the DIA, revealed a restructuring of funds: off-street parking was never solvent, so on-street parking had to make it whole. […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 22, 2016

The parade of departmental budget reviews in Jacksonville’s Mayor’s Office continued Wednesday with a consideration of budgets for the Parks and Recreation Department. As ever, these reviews are conducted by Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa and CFO Mike Weinstein. Among the highlights from Parks: a dive into the Hemming Park allocation, a discussion of water taxis, the […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 21, 2016

On Tuesday, the annual budget review of Jacksonville’s Office of Economic Development was conducted by Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa. The most interesting takeaway: surplus incentive funds that won’t be used, with a reduction in allocation year over year. The highlights: OED head Kirk Wendland is prepared to reduce QTI and Rev Grant monies by $400,000 in […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 21, 2016

On Tuesday, the office of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry reviewed the budget of Sports and Entertainment and the Office of Economic Development, ahead of formal submission of the budget to City Council in July. Facilitating the review: Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa. The highlights from Sports and Entertainment: Active discussion of the Florida/Georgia Hall of Fame […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 13, 2016

On Monday, the Jacksonville Mayor’s Budget Review Committee took a look at the budget of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, one of the most compelling sections in a flat budget year. A $17 million increase in general fund allocation was requested in the roughly $400 million budget. The highlights: Red-light camera revenue is down, as a result of driver […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2016

In the Jacksonville City Council leadership elections, the main event was anticlimactic. Everyone knew current Vice President Lori Boyer would be voted in as president-designate, offering meaningful continuity after the presidency of Greg Anderson. However, the VP-designate race between Doyle Carter and John Crescimbeni offered considerably more drama, with both men deadlocked at eight pledges each ahead of the special […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 12, 2016

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The Jacksonville City Council’s special committee on solid waste addressed on Thursday recycling in business, commercial, office, and multi-family dwelling units of 10 or more. Discussion revolved around the boom-or-bust nature of the recycling industry, as well as problems created by commodity prices and people’s approach to single-stream recycling. Councilman John Crescimbeni noted, mentioning several Florida municipalities, that […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 10, 2016

Passage of 2016-300, which authorizes the referendum to extend the half-cent Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax to address the city’s $2.7 billion unfunded pension liability, seemed to be a certainty before Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. After public comment, hand wringing from some council members, and tub thumping from others, it was approved 19 to 0 […]

Tag: Sam Mousa
Aleksandar Vucic Image via AP

More money in Jax City Council budget next year

Jax mayor’s office budget review: Planning & Development

Parking discussions abound during Jax Downtown Investment Authority budget review

Jax Mayor’s Office reviews Parks budget

Jax mayor’s office reviews Office of Economic Development budget

Jax mayor’s office reviews sports and entertainment budget

Jax mayor’s office reviews sheriff’s budget

Jax City Council elects Lori Boyer president, John Crescimbeni vice-president

Jax Council solid waste committee mulls recycling issues

Jacksonville City Council authorizes August pension tax referendum