JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Aviation Authority and the City of Jacksonville announced Friday that the authority will not file a planned lawsuit against the city over a dispute about the airport budget.
The two parties signed an agreement dated July 31 in which the JAA agreed to refrain from filing suit and both the city and the authority asked the 2027 Florida Legislature to provide “clear direction as to the structure, roles, and responsibilities of the JAA,” the agreement says.
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The move ends a standoff that intensified after the JAA’s board on July 16 voted to allow outside counsel to file a lawsuit on or after Aug. 16 if the dispute was not resolved.
The dispute centers on whether the City Council overstepped its authority in matters related to the airport budget and on what expenditures the JAA can make under Federal Aviation Administration rules, the agreement says.
In a joint statement, the JAA said it “stands ready and willing to partner with the City of Jacksonville and the State of Florida to serve the people of our region and users of the JAA’s four-airport system while fostering economic growth for the community.” The statement said the authority seeks to operate “in ways that are consistent with federal law, existing contracts, and the JAA’s charter.”
The agreement notes that the JAA was created by the Florida Legislature and is an independent public agency that does not receive regular funding from the city. It also says a majority of the JAA board is appointed by the governor, while the mayor appoints three members subject to City Council confirmation.
The parties said they were informed of the intent by House leadership to seek legislative action next year and urged that the Legislature provide clarity during its 2027 session.