Jacksonville Finance Committee Meeting - June 2, 2026

The Finance Committee of the Jacksonville City Council met on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 2:46 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting featured a report on a procurement audit follow-up, action on multiple ordinances, and extensive debate on a school tax referendum and the potential impact of state property tax reform. Council Vice President Nick Howland was excused; Council President Kevin Carrico and other members were present. Councilmember Raul Arias arrived at 1:05 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Several items were deferred at the request of council members: Items 1 through 7 (2024-0627, 2024-0966, 2025-0361, 2025-0775, 2026-0227, 2026-0318, 2026-0320) all deferred.
• Item 10 (2026-0377, Downtown Entertainment District report) deferred.
• Item 26 (2026-0418, BCBS parking agreement) deferred.
• Items 27-32 and 35-42 (second reading ordinances) were read and rereferred without vote.
• The following items were approved unanimously or with limited opposition: Items 11 (Tax Collector lease extension), 12 (Convention Center parcel conveyance), 15 (Happy Brew vocational training grant), 19-22 (various traffic signal and grant appropriations), 24 (Amazon subscription funding), and 34 (Goodwill Summer Youth Works program) – all passed 7-0 or 6-0 after amendments.

Discussion Items

• Council Auditor Report #871A: Brian Parks presented a follow-up on the Procurement Audit – Informal Purchase of Supplies. Six of 15 original issues were cleared; nine remain. Remaining issues include undocumented internal processes, accidental bypass of procurement, excessive system access, and solicitations favoring single vendors. Also noted: three barred suppliers not deactivated in a timely manner.
• Property Tax Reform Discussion: Council Auditor Phillip Peterson distributed a handout estimating a $265 to $300 million impact on the city’s general fund if the state property tax referendum (likely on the November ballot) passes. CFO Anna Brosche stated the administration is evaluating the budget strategy and will present the mayor’s proposed budget in July. Council members debated the implications: CM Lahnen noted the need to assume passage and prepare reductions; CM Diamond argued for cuts to non-essential services like downtown incentives; CM Carlucci stressed informing the public; CM Johnson emphasized impacts on vulnerable communities. CM Salem lamented lack of communication from the school superintendent, while CM Arias and CM Diamond expressed resistance to new spending.
• Item 8 – Emerald Trail Eminent Domain (2026-0327): A substitute was approved 4-3 allowing $12,599,258 to be redirected from construction to land acquisition for 17 parcels. CM Diamond offered an amendment requiring council approval before filing eminent domain lawsuits (passed 6-1, Pittman opposed). The administration (Nina Sickler) opposed the amendment, citing delays and cost increases. CM Pittman then successfully moved to remove an incorrectly included parcel (unanimous). The final bill passed 4-3, with Arias, Diamond, and Carrico voting no.
• Item 17 – School Tax Referendum (2026-0387): This ordinance would place on the November 3, 2026 ballot a referendum to continue the existing 1 mill ad valorem tax for school operations for four years (from July 1, 2027). After intensive debate, the initial vote was 4-2 to approve (Diamond, Salem nay). A motion to reconsider succeeded, leading to a tied vote (3-3) causing a deferral. A second reconsideration resulted in a 2-4 failure. Finally, a motion to reconsider again passed, and CM Carrico moved to defer, which passed 4-3. The bill was deferred; it can be discharged by a 2/3 vote at the June 9 council meeting. OGC noted the council’s role is ministerial, but some members argued for a deferral to allow more community input.
• Item 9 – Meridian Waste Contract Amendment (2026-0335): Unanimously approved after an amendment correcting fuel cap fiscal years. The amendment extends the contract through September 2032, raises the FY 2026/27 per-premise rate 8.8% to $22.05, eliminates the rate review process, includes a $75,000 Community Partnership Investment, and allows one extraordinary rate adjustment with council approval. The Council Auditor expressed concern that this increase will cost approximately $7 million more over the contract term.
• Item 16 – Affordable Housing Loan (2026-0386): Approved 6-1 (Diamond nay), authorizing a $3.8 million loan at 1% interest for 20 years to Tracy Justina Ricker TC LLC for 108 affordable housing units across three sites. The loan is gap funding; units must be for households at or below 60% AMI. CM Salem noted that similar projects may become unfundable if property taxes are reduced.
• Item 23 – Filmmakers Endowment Grants (2026-0396): Approved 6-1 (Diamond nay), amending the Public Investment Policy to allow endowment grants up to $10,000 each from the Jacksonville Film and Television Office Trust Fund. There is no annual cap on the number of grants.
• Item 25 – Gateway Contingency (2026-0416): Approved 6-1 (Diamond nay), appropriating $1,100,000 from Downtown Economic Development Fund investment pool earnings into a contingency account for previously approved Gateway completion grants, reducing unfunded DIA incentives to about $6.99 million.
• Item 33 – LISC Small Business Re-grant (2026-0451): Emergency approved 6-1 (Diamond nay), extending the grant period and raising the targeted business revenue cap from $400,000 to $750,000.

Key Outcomes

• Emerald Trail Eminent Domain (2026-0327): Passed 4-3 with amendments requiring council pre-approval for any eminent domain filings and removing an ineligible parcel.
• Meridian Waste Contract (2026-0335): Passed 7-0, with a noted cost concern of $7 million over the contract term.
• School Tax Referendum (2026-0387): Deferred 4-3 after multiple votes. The bill can still be considered by the full council on June 9 with a 2/3 discharge vote.
• Affordable Housing Loan (2026-0386): Passed 6-1, authorizing $3.8M for 108 units.
• DIA Fee Authority (2026-0383): Passed 6-1, allowing the DIA to impose and collect regulatory fees for administrative costs related to downtown development.
• JEA Headquarters Sale (2026-0388): Passed 7-0, approving the sale of the former JEA headquarters (appraised at $14.975M) to Jewel at 21 West, LLC for $1 million. The developer plans to seek city incentives.
• Environmental Protection Fund (2026-0382): Passed 6-1, appropriating $45,000 (including $5,000 for food) for board and staff expenses.
• Vision for Excellence Summer Program (2026-0466): Emergency passed 7-0, appropriating $125,000 from District 14 CBA contingency for a summer and after-school program; a waiver for advance payment was removed.
• Goodwill Summer Youth Works (2026-0452): Emergency passed 7-0, appropriating $150,000 from general fund reserves to serve 50 youth ages 16-24.
• LISC Small Business Re-grant (2026-0451): Emergency passed 6-1, extending the grant term to December 31, 2026, and expanding eligibility.
• Property Tax Reform Discussion: No formal action, but the committee acknowledged the potential $300M shortfall, with council members expressing varying positions on preparing for cuts and communicating with the public.