JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville's City Council members want Sheriff Mike Williams to ensure that dozens of new officers he wants to hire this year go to work in the areas of the city that need them most.
The council's finance committee started work Thursday tearing into Mayor Lenny Curry's $1.2 billion budget proposal.
Part of that work involved grilling Williams over the 100 new officers Curry requested in the budget. There's only enough funding in the budget for 80 officers, but the mayor wants Williams to have the option to hire up to 100 during the next fiscal year.
Council members peppered Williams with questions, wanting to ensure that the officers hired go to areas where crime is a problem. The budget hearings will continue through August, and the committee wants Williams to return later this month to outline exactly where those officers will be assigned.
“They have questions, and they have the right to ask those questions,” Williams said. “We have to get them the information to show that this is a good thing for the community.”
The fire department met no resistance to its request for 42 new firefighters and the opening of a temporary fire station near I-295 and Baymeadows Road in December.
Higher city fees coming?
The finance committee also heard a proposal to raise garbage and stormwater fees, but the council members balked at that idea.
The City Council auditor suggested raising the garbage fee to help offset the fact that the city's recycling program now costs more than $2 million a year and no longer makes money because there's no market for the recycled material. A higher stormwater fee could pay for more drainage programs, the auditor suggested.
“I think the mayor has made a commitment not too (raise those fees),” Councilman Garrett Dennis said. “This council is going to follow that lead. This is only Day 1. We have several days, so right now, we are looking good.”
The committee said it's possible the fees might have to be raised next year.
The full City Council will vote on the budget near the end of September. The city's 2017-18 fiscal year begins Oct. 1.