JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – City Council members met again Wednesday trying to hammer out a plan to tackle Jacksonville's $1.7 billion pension deficit.
It's something they've tried in the past but could never get through. So they are at it again.
"This is the issue of the 21st century of this city," Mayor Alvin Brown said. "The pension reform goes well beyond the 2011 proposal, and after listening to council, we advanced beyond last year's proposal. This agreement may not have everything imaginable, but it does have everything necessary for a long-term effective solution. It requires shared sacrifice and commitment from the mayor and you the council."
The plan on the table relies on a number of items to be approved.
It would mean current police and fire employees would pay more into the pension fund and keep a 3 percent cost-of-living increase each year.
New employees would also pay more and retire at a later date and receive fewer benefits.
Other items include changes to the DROP program, which allows employees to put off retirement until later and receive more money.
The city, in turn, would pay an additional $40 million into the plan each year.
It's not known where that money will come from -- either from JEA, which the mayor wants, or a possible tax increase, which has been discussed by the pension board and some council members. That's a problem for the Jacksonville Civic Council, made up of a a group of city leaders.
"The City Council and our representatives are going to have to find a dedicated revenue source," said Jeane Miller, of the Civic Council. "We have been an adamant advocate for that. We absolutely believe the assets must be dedicated to pay down this debt. It's not getting any smaller."
The Mayor's Office said it is willing to work with the council and hopes to get something done this year.
"So we want to see the enactment of this legislation to really help improve our pension system for our taxpayers and our workers, and we are going to work with City Council to get that done this year," mayoral spokesman Dave DeCamp said.
During a meeting Wednesday night, the mayor was asked how he would respond if the council were to propose a referendum to ask voters if they want to raise sales taxes to pay down the $40 million pension. The mayor said he would not sign that bill and would veto it.
City Council president Clay Yarborough said Wednesday night's meeting involved healthy debate and was productive even though no action was taken.
The city still needs a long-term solution to a long-term problem, Yarborough said.
Councilman Bill Gulliford, who is proposing a number of changes, said he does not see this getting done anytime soon.
"We get one shot at this and it absolutely has to be right," Gulliford said. "And I don't think what we have in front of us right now is where we need to be."