WEDNESDAY July 21, 2021
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
PROPOSED 2021-22 CITY BUDGET
Curry’s $1.41B plan sees city Daily Record spending increase by 5.22%
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
The budget and $494.7 million in Capital Improvement Plan spending is backed by the gas tax and $171.8 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding.
JACKSONVILLE
BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s proposed $1.41 billion fiscal year 2021-22 general fund budget includes $494.7 million in capital spending bolstered by a jump in ad valorem and state tax revenue and federal coronavirus-related aid. In a speech to City Council on July 20 at City Hall, Curry credited his 2015 city pension reform legislation, the recent 6-cent local option gas tax increase and federal American Rescue Plan funding for allowing the city to boost spending a year after the pandemic. “Because of the smart and responsible decisions we’ve made in previous years, Jacksonville is not only in a position to recover from the pandemic, but emerge stronger than we were before,” Curry said. The overall budget is a 5.22% increase from the 2020-21 budget, but the $494.7 Capital Improvement Plan, which includes 169 projects, is a $255.7 million increase over the 2021 CIP. According to a breakdown from the Curry administration, Duval County has half of the $343.6 million it will receive over the next two years from the federal American Rescue Plan Act available now.
Photo by Mike Mendenhall
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry announces his proposed 2021-22 city budget to Council members at City Hall on July 20.
CAPITAL PROJECTS HIGHLIGHTS Mayor Lenny Curry’s proposed budget includes 169 Capital Improvement Projects totaling more than $494.7 million. Some highlights: Drainage and septic Tanks: Mayor Lenny Curry is proposing $54 million in drainage and stormwater resiliency projects, as well as $50 million in septic tank phaseout work using aid from the federal American Rescue Plan.
Parks and quality of life: City Council President Sam Newby’s newly created committee on parks and quality of life investments will receive $50 million if the budget is approved. Curry said another $50 million will be appropriated in fiscal year 2022-23.
Jaguars development: The budget includes millions for Downtown development projects, including $36 million for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ proposed $120 million cityowned football performance center and $8 million to move the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Museum.
Fairgrounds and MOSH: The budget would allocate $15 million to help relocate the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fairgrounds out of Downtown and $12 million to help the Museum of Science and History relocate from the Southbank to the Shipyards.
More fire stations: The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department would receive $21.49 million to renovate and build fire stations around the county.
MORE INSIDE Charts break down proposed city budget spending. Page 2
SEE BUDGET, PAGE 2
San Marco Square building sells for $3 million TSG Realty purchased 1958 San Marco Blvd. in San Marco Square for $3 million, TSG Realty Property Manager Pamela Howard said July 12. TSG purchased the property from New Deco Two LLC, managed by Husein Cumber. 1958 San Marco is leased by Miriam’s Jewelry, Wolf & Tonic Barbershop, JuiceBox and The Spice and Tea Exchange. TSG owns the adjacent building at 1950 San Marco Blvd. and several other properties in the neighborhood. Howard said the company had “a longstanding desire” to add to its holdings in San Marco.
VOLUME 108, NO. 173 • ONE SECTION