JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A new bill filed in Florida legislature is targeting public utilities like JEA.
House Bill 1277 and its companion Senate Bill 1510 would limit amount of funds a public utility can contribute to local government.
Based on its fiscal year 2023 numbers, JEA says its contributions to the City of Jacksonville would decrease by $73 million dollars if this bill passed.
“These dollars come from local ratepayers. The ratepayers like those dollars turned around to use to improve the quality of our life and improve and keep our city safe,” Jacksonville city councilmember, Matt Carlucci, said.
Money from JEA is used for the City of Jacksonville's police, fire, roads and sidewalks.
Carlucci says those improvements and safety are being threatened by two new bills in Tallahassee.
“This is pure arrogance on the part of the state legislature," Carlucci said.
Representative Demi Busatta Cabrera out of Miami-Dade is sponsoring the house bill and sponsored a similar one last year.
In a committee meeting last March she said the intent was to prevent customers who live outside city boundaries from being overcharged.
But it died in committees.
“We’re tired of people attacking the JEA. Tallahassee can’t seem to help themselves in trying to pick the pockets of the local taxpayers," Carlucci said.
Carlucci says he plans to speak with the city’s office of general counsel and may file a resolution against the bill.
He did the same thing last year and the Duval Delegation took the message to Tallahassee.
“I think the delegation at least needs to hear from the City of Jacksonville on how we feel about the local government those of us who account to the people day in and day out," Carlucci said.
First Coast News reached out to Representative Busatta Cabrera, but has not heard back.