City Council approves $1.1B budget for 2016-17

JSO makes up biggest share of city's budget

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville City Council voted Tuesday evening to approve the 2016-2017 budget of approximately $1.1 billion proposed by Mayor Lenny Curry.

Highlights of the new budget include $3.3 million for 40 new police officers and 40 new community service officers, $12 million for road resurfacing and $2.25 million for parks and recreation project. The items were approved without a lot of fanfare, unlike the drama of past years, and without a tax increase. 

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The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office makes up the biggest part of the city budget, which also includes $14 million for police vehicles and funding for a body camera pilot program, in addition to the new officers. 

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams told News4Jax Wednesday that they are working on determining where in the city the additional officers would be most beneficial.

VIEW: Sheriff Williams' statement on passage of 2016-17 budget

"It is not going to change our allocation model. We still look at a lot of data to decide where we need to put those officers and we will continue to do that. But this will allow us to put officers in neighborhoods where we need them the most," Williams said. 

The Sheriff's Office said it is planning to hire 240 more police in the next 20 months to replace those who are retiring or leaving. 

This is the second year in a row that the sheriff was able to hire new officers. Williams said it has made a difference because crime is down 5 percent. 

Williams said the body cameras will be tested in the spring, but the pilot program did not have much impact on this year's budget. 

"We don't need money for the pilot program. We can work through. We got lots of things to work through before we spend a penny," Williams said. 

Other areas of the city will also see some changes as a result of the budget. City Council President Lori Boyer said some money will now go to many neglected areas. 

"Towards park maintenance, towards repaving the roadways, repairing bridges and then on the last day of the budget, we were able to add an additional $8 million to which we allocated to sidewalk repair," Boyer said. 

Also benefiting from the budget will be Learn To Swim programs. Last minute money came through and donations from others in order to keep the programs afloat. 

“The approval of the 2016-2017 budget represents continued momentum that should give the people of Jacksonville renewed confidence about the direction in which our community is headed,” Curry said in a statement. “Last month, voters overwhelmingly supported pension reform to help forge a path to long-term financial stability. Now, with the continued support of City Council - our second consecutive year of presenting a balanced budget - we’ve achieved a budget for the next fiscal year that reflects not only our commitment to fiscal responsibility, but also our determination to improve public safety, enrich our neighborhoods and increase economic opportunities  in Jacksonville. As mayor, I am incredibly proud and grateful for this level of teamwork and collaboration, and thank Council members for their thoughtful deliberation and work.” 

The new budget will go into effect Oct. 1. 


About the Author:

Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.