JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After months of debating and negotiating, the Jacksonville City Council has passed its budget for the next fiscal year.

Tuesday afternoon, council members held a special meeting to formally approve the bills related to the budget. The final details of the budget were worked out two weeks ago in a compromise between the council and Mayor John Peyton's office. The bills related to the budget passed overwhelmingly, and the meeting was adjourned within 15 minutes.

The nearly $1 billion budget includes a property tax increase and spares some city services.

The 9.2 millage rate approved keeps next year's city revenue at the same rate as the current budget year, but results in an average $75-per-home increase because of reductions in property values.

The new budget also avoids the layoffs at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, which would have resulted under an earlier version of the budget. Also, library hours and the inspector general's office will not be cut.

The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.