JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — City officials met Thursday to discuss a gas-tax that would help fund infrastructure projects and provide "thousands" of jobs in related industries.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, City Council President Tommy Hazouri, City Council Vice President Samuel Newby, City Council Member Brenda Priestly Jackson and JTA CEO, Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., announced plans for the "Jobs for Jax" program.
In partnership with JTA, "Jobs for Jax" will address transportation and infrastructure needs with a new revenue source secured by the existing Local Option Gas Tax.
This tax would fund nearly $1 billion in projects to improve roadways, fix drainage issues, create jobs and more.
"We can make significant progress on improvements to transportation and infrastructure needs throughout our community over 30 years," Curry said. "This source of revenue is expected to raise nearly a billion dollars ... create thousands of jobs ... this will lead to better quality roadways and more economic opportunities for our neighborhoods."
Curry wants to double the gas tax in Duval County to help pay for sidewalk projects, roadways, generic constriction and even an additional Ferry boat. He says it would also free up money in the general fund for other projects like phasing out septic tanks.
The current gas tax in Jacksonville is six cents per gallon and the increase would bring it to 12 cents per gallon. Several surrounding counties charge 12 cents per gallon.
The average cost of gas in Jacksonville is $2.85 a gallon, according to Gas Buddy.
First Coast News asked Curry and City Council President Tommy Hazouri, who did not campaign on a gas tax like this, why now?
"If not now, when?" Hazouri answered. "I think that's sort of an old saying to say. There's no good time for a tax and now's the time and now's the opportunity. Yesterday we should have done it. Tomorrow's too late. There's too much we need to do that we can't shortchange our citizens."
The plan is to propose the tax to the city council in the beginning of April so that there can be a vote before July when they're creating the five-year capital plan.