Jacksonville City Council Special Committee on Utility Assistance Meeting - October 16, 2026

The Special Committee on Utility Assistance met on October 16, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. for a one-hour meeting to finalize emergency legislation providing $2.3 million in utility relief from city reserves. The committee aimed to file the bill by October 21, 2026 to meet a Wednesday deadline. Chair Councilmember Peluso and Co-Chair Councilmember Gaffney led the discussion, joined by Councilmembers Pittman, Clark Murray, and Peluso. The proposed legislation would allocate $400,000 to the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and the remaining $1.9 million through a new "City to Neighbor" program administered by United Way and its partners.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lorraine Husband argued that utility assistance treats symptoms, not causes, and urged the city to address rate hikes directly. She noted that JEA sent $179 million to the city's general fund in FY2026 and that ratepayers effectively fund the city only to receive a small share back as assistance. She called for lowering or limiting the city's take from JEA.
• Suzanne Sapp (Sierra Club, Duval Affordable Clean Energy Coalition) called the $2 million a "band-aid" and demanded no disconnections, free energy audits for renters, a community advisory council for JEA, and a forensic audit of JEA spending. She criticized JEA's secret energy planning process.
• Deborah Thompson (NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Committee) highlighted the difficulty for low-income families with unstable incomes to manage escalating utility bills, sometimes higher than housing costs. She urged a long-term strategy and fixed rates for vulnerable populations.
• Rev. Dr. Russell Meyer (St. John's Lutheran Church) advocated for energy efficiency financing tied to property tax bills, arguing that the emergency is permanent. He questioned why the city is not moving toward renewable energy and said the city can afford real solutions.

Discussion Items

• Chair Peluso reviewed existing utility assistance programs: the city's program through Parks, Rec & Community Services (one-time assistance every 18 months) and the JEA Neighbor to Neighbor program (funded by voluntary ratepayer contributions, administered by United Way and Catholic Charities).
• He proposed $2.3 million from reserves: $400,000 for Parks and Rec ($200,000 per year for two years) without requiring new staff, and the remaining $1.9 million for a new "City to Neighbor" program via United Way, with $200,000 for administration and $1.7 million for direct services over one year.
• Councilmember Gaffney suggested setting aside $100,000–$200,000 for veterans, but Councilmember Pittman opposed segregating funds, arguing all in need should be eligible. The committee agreed not to disaggregate funds.
• Councilmember Pittman raised concerns about access and immediate relief, noting that many families struggle with transportation and bureaucratic delays. She advocated for a maximum of $1,200 per household, which was adopted.
• Coretta Hill (United Way) explained the 211 system: seven daytime call takers handle tens of thousands of calls weekly; the Community Navigation Network (Catholic Charities, Jewish Family Services, DESK) uses a closed-loop model to ensure clients get served. She reported that the three partners could absorb $750,000 without additional admin support, but anything beyond that would require 10-15% admin.
• JEA representative Charles Morland provided data: 85% of residential customers pay within 30 days; 12% pay by day 60; 9,381 customers are 61-90 days past due, and 3,387 are 91-120 days past due. He described JEA's customer support options and noted that JEA worked with the two specific customers who spoke at the prior meeting.
• Councilmembers discussed the need for effective marketing of assistance programs, especially for seniors and low-income households. JEA noted that 67% of customers use e-bill and that outreach occurs through call advisors and events like Senior Day.

Key Outcomes

• The committee agreed to file emergency legislation by October 21, 2026 (Wednesday) allocating $2.3 million from city reserves for utility assistance.
• Parks, Rec & Community Services: $400,000 ($200,000 per year for two years) for their utility assistance program, without hiring new staff.
• City to Neighbor Program: $1.9 million to United Way, with $200,000 for administration and $1.7 million for direct services over one year. United Way and its partners (Catholic Charities, Jewish Family Services, DESK) will administer the funds. A maximum of $1,200 per household is allowed. No income segregation by population.
• United Way will receive 25% of funds upfront ($475,000) for immediate hiring and administration, with monthly reimbursements thereafter.
• The bill requires 13 votes to pass; committee members expressed confidence in achieving that goal.
• JEA confirmed they followed up with the two customers from the prior meeting and resolved their issues.