JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – City officials will meet Monday afternoon to review Mayor Donna Deegan’s budget.
The $2 billion budget was passed in September after a contentious back-and-forth between council members, and with property taxes being a huge point of focus.
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Budget review meetings are held biweekly. However, Monday’s meeting comes just days after state lawmakers gave the green light to seven constitutional amendments aiming at property tax reforms, which has been a huge push from the governor.
The city has also been under the microscope by the state.
Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida’s CFO Blaise Ingoglia have accused Jacksonville of wasteful spending and overtaxing its residents by nearly $200 million.
While the property tax reforms could help homeowners, city officials warn it could cripple funding for police, fire, and infrastructure.
Mayor Donna Deegan has called the state’s moves “partisan attacks” that distract from important local issues like affordable housing and healthcare costs.
A common feature among the amendments is that they all prohibit local governments from cutting law enforcement budgets simply due to lower property tax revenue.
Those constitutional amendments still have to get support from 60% of voters in the next election to take effect, which wouldn’t be until 2027.
Back in September, some of the highlights of what was passed in the city’s budget included efforts to streamline the permit process for small businesses, address affordable housing and homelessness, and the 1/8 reduction to the millage rate.
MORE | Mayor Deegan ‘disappointed’ by millage rate vote, but grateful City Council passed $2B budget
City officials say it is on track to save the city nearly $13 million in property taxes.
The budget reviews are held the second and fourth Monday of each month except when those Mondays occur on a holiday.