Councilman makes emergency plan to save afterschool programs

Current city cuts would impact 1,800 at-risk students

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville City Council member Garrett Dennis filed emergency legislation Wednesday afternoon to find funding for after-school programs, which have recently been cut from the city's budget.

Dennis submitted a finance plan that would allocate money from an unused pension contingency account.

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The plan calls for $1.9 million for after-school programs in Duval County, including those put on by the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida.

The city allocated the same money for the programs, but spread it out differently, leaving certain programs out. Dennis said he wants to "make things right."

Dennis said he will bring the proposal in front of the Jacksonville City Council at the next meeting on Tuesday. He will need 13 votes to declare an emergency and 13 votes to pass the bill. Otherwise, the budget change would require a six-week process.

On Tuesday, News4Jax broke a story about the non-profit's funding problem.

Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida CEO Paul Martinez said without $1.7 million from the city, the organization would not be able to open eight facilities around the county. Fourteen centers would be open in time for Labor Day, when the programs traditionally start.

Martinez said the closures would affect around 1,800 children, most from single-parent, low-income homes.

"We serve the kids that need us the most," Martinez said. "The majority of our kids come from single-parent households; 87 percent do. Another 75 percent are free (lunch) and reduced lunch."

Half of the organization's funding comes from private donations and fundraising, and the other half comes from the government.

The clubs are big resources in lower-income communities, offering meals, homework help, arts, crafts and sports to children after school.

Martinez said if the kids are shut out, they're going to miss the fun and the sense of belonging. "We are in competition with the streets," Martinez said. "If these kids don't have any place to turn to, gangs offer the same things that we do."

This is not the first time Dennis has proposed to allocate funding for after-school programs. The council voted down his previous measures.

Dennis' new plan also requests funding for after-school programs like the Wayman Community Development Corporation, Don't Miss A Beat, Cornerstone of Jacksonville, Us and Our Children and Communities in Schools of Jacksonville. Those organizations also had funding cut from the city's latest budget.

Mayor's Office spokeswoman Marsha Oliver released a statement about Dennis' proposal:

“The funds in the ‘unused pension contingency account’(UAAL) have been previously earmarked and obligated for the one-time three percent payment to employees. These funds were earmarked during pension reform hearings and earmarked, once again, in the third quarter summary. These knee-jerk reactions of appropriating funding on an emergency basis need to stop. The mayor, with his continued commitment to youth safety and enrichment offerings, has been meeting with Council members and is scheduled to meet with the Boys & Girls Club to identify a solution that is fiscally responsible and properly vetted in the budget process.”


About the Author:

Lifetime Jacksonville resident anchors the 8 and 9 a.m. weekday newscasts and is part of the News4Jax I-Team.