JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan presented her proposed $1.9 billion budget to city council Monday, which outlines where your tax dollars could be spent in fiscal year 2024 - 2025.
The proposed budget, which is $165 million more than last year's, outlines key investments on city infrastructure, public safety, health, affordable housing, homelessness, economic development and community funding.
“Our proposed budget makes investments that deliver the best return for our citizens, continue to make good on the broken promises of consolidation, and create the ignition point that will take Jacksonville from potential to progress,” Deegan said. “The time is now to choose what type of city we want to be. Let’s be one that lifts as we climb.”
If Deegan's budget is approved by the city council, residents could see a new fire station built in their neighborhood, more police officers on their street, and new parks and museums along the St. Johns River.
But Deegan’s budget proposal didn’t begin with talk about money. She read a prayer she said she has framed on her office desk and reflected on the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“I know we can’t change everything in this nation by our behavior,” Deegan said in part. “But we can be the spark. Let’s be that shining city. I know we can.”
Deegan’s budget proposal puts millions of dollars toward downtown development, including riverfront parks and city venues such as the Ritz Theatre, 121 Financial Ballpark and Vystar Veteran’s Memorial Arena.
Her budget includes adding 40 new police officers and she announced the launch of a community-based crime prevention initiative called Journey Forward. It’s a revitalized program credited with helping drop the violent crime rate in the past.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said community participation is key to curbing crime.
“We need this entire community,” Waters said. “Community policing’s also about people getting involved and helping us do things that we can’t do all by ourselves and I think that’s going to help us to continue to get better.”
Deegan’s budget also puts $10 million toward homelessness programs to comply with the new state law that prohibits sleeping on public property. She’s also calling on the private sector to add $5 million to that.
CEO of Changing Homelessness Dawn Gilman said the money will have to be used strategically.
“When you divide it amongst all the people that are currently experiencing homelessness, it’s very little per person,” Gilman said. ”So like any budget, we’re gonna have to really prioritize where we recommend that funding goes to.”
Deegan wants to use the city's operating reserves to pay for one-time expenses, saying the reserves would be double the recommended target in the ordinance code.
Outgoing City Council President Ron Salem said he’s concerned about using reserves.
“The reserves are there for a reason,” Salem said. “When we have a hurricane or a natural disaster, we have to front that money and pay for all the expenses and then we submit those dollars to FEMA and we’re paid back, which may take several years.”
At the end of her budget presentation, Deegan thanked the community.
“Let’s be a city that turns renderings into reality,” she said. “Let’s be a city that finally meets its promise to everyone. Let’s be that Bold New City of the South.”
City council committees will review the budget proposal over the next few months.
Here are the proposed budget highlights:
INFRASTRUCTURE
- Downtown Riverfront/Resiliency
- Metropolitan Park Marina Fire Station, Museum and Dock ($14,310,000 in 2025 / $37,590,000 total)
- Museum of Science and History ($3 million in 2025 / $50 million total)
- Northbank Riverwalk and Bulkhead, as well as Northbank Marina ($15 million in 2025 / $115 million total)
- Southbank Riverwalk – two docks, bulkhead and riverwalk development ($13.2 million)
- Parks & Libraries
- Library Renovations at Oceanway and Beaches locations ($4.2 million in FY25 / $5.5 million total)
- Park and Pool improvements at 14 facilities ($24 million)
- City Venues
- Renovations at the Ritz Theater, 121 Financial Ballpark, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, and Performing Arts Center ($25.1 million)
- Additional funding in 5-year CIP for ongoing repairs and maintenance at city venues
- Road Construction/Resilience
- Annual target funding met for critical infrastructure projects including road construction, drainage, pedestrian crossings, and sidewalks. ($62 million for transportation in FY25; $21 million for drainage in FY25)
PUBLIC SAFETY
- 40 additional police officers
- New fire stations construction ($28 million)
- Additional funding for security at the Courthouse, Lonnie Miller Park, Friendship Fountain, and Riverside Skate Park ($138,119)
HEALTH
- UF Health investment to care for vulnerable citizens ($56 million)
- UF Health capital project investment ($38 million in FY 25, $24 million annually thereafter)
AFFORDABLE HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS
- Affordable Housing Loan Fund: $10 million
- Homelessness program to comply with state law: $10 million
- Eviction prevention funding: $300,000
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- 2 positions in support of new procurement code
- Economic development investments:
- $10.5 million in previously approved Downtown Investment Authority completion grants and forgivable loans
- $24 million in Office of Economic Development grants, loans, REV grants and qualified targeted industry payments for companies that have relocated to or expanded operations in Jacksonville
COMMUNITY FUNDING
- Arts Funding/Cultural Council ($7 million)
- Public Service Grants ($7.2 million)