Finance Panel Can't Cut $50 Million
Despite Shorter Library Hours, Other Cuts, Tax Rate Will Increase
POSTED: Wednesday, September 9, 2009
UPDATED: 4:55 pm EDT September 9,
2009
  The City Council finance committee voted to keep all libraries open, but to cut hours at six branches and eliminate 15 positions. |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The City Council finance committee ended weeks of contentious budget hearings by cutting hours at six branch libraries, but fell short of its goal of cutting $50 million from the budget to avoid a property tax increase.The panel's budget could be tweaked at a meeting on Sept. 17, with a final vote scheduled by the full City Council on Sept. 29 -- 48 hours before the city's new fiscal year.The final millage rate is still not set, but it will be somewhat lower than the 12 percent hike Mayor John Peyton proposed at the beginning of the summer, but higher than extending the 2008 rate that the majority of the council voted for in July.
At Wednesday morning's meeting, the committee voted not to close any libraries, but did the majority did support reducing hours by from 10 to 34 hours per week at six branches. It also eliminated 15 library positions.The total cost savings would be $688,000.Not all council members supported the cuts."The kids need to have accessibility to the libraries. If they're not going to be open on Saturdays when they're home, at least we could have them open when they're out of school," Councilman Johnny Gaffney said after the vote. "I'm just appalled at that and I just cannot believe what kind of message we're sending."Two of the six libraries affected are in Gaffney's council district.
Copyright 2009 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Previous Stories:
- September 4, 2009: Council Still Working On Cutting Budget
- September 4, 2009: Panel Cuts Sheriff's Budget $10.7 Million
- August 28, 2009: Former Mayor Angry At City Council
- August 27, 2009: Veterans Day Parade Could Be Cut
- August 20, 2009: Council Votes To Give Back Jags Tickets
- August 13, 2009: City Leaders To Hand Over Jags Tickets
- August 11, 2009: City Council Pay Could Be Cut In Half
- August 3, 2009: City Council Gets Suggestions For Budget
- July 29, 2009: Mayor Vetoes Council's Tax Bill
- July 29, 2009: City Council Votes Against Tax Hike
- July 28, 2009: Justice Dept. To Fund 50 JSO Officers
- July 21, 2009: Council To Deal With Committee Decision
- July 21, 2009: Mayor Addresses Hurdle At Public Meeting
- July 20, 2009: Finance Committee Votes Down Tax Hike
- July 16, 2009: City's Finance Committee Adds 2 Members
- July 14, 2009: City's Finance Committee Lacks Diversity
- July 13, 2009: Mayor Unveils Nearly $1B Budget
Copyright 2009 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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