See the budget file

jaxrfa.com/jfrd_bulletins/7.15.13budgetFINAL.pdf

From: "Mayor Alvin Brown" <MayorBrown@coj.net>
Subject: The 2013-14 Budget Proposal
Dear City of Jacksonville Employees,

First, let me express to you how much I appreciate the countless hours of hard work you perform every day on behalf of Jacksonville taxpayers. Your efforts make up the core services that support quality of life throughout our city.

This morning, I gave my third budget address as Mayor to the Jacksonville City Council. I have attached a copy of the speech and you can watch it online by clicking here<http://youtu.be/tBT_27LhJxM>.

For the third year in a row, we have a significant budget deficit to close. And for the third year in a row, I have presented a budget that closes the deficit without raising taxes or tapping into city reserves.

In this budget, we have to eliminate more than $60 million in spending to keep us living within our means. These cuts could mean closing libraries, fire stations, and community centers. Public safety positions could be at risk.

I don’t want to make these kinds of cuts. They are not acceptable for the long-term good of our city and our neighborhoods.

As I told Council members this morning, tax increases are not the solution. Deep spending cuts are not the solution. The solution is reform.

City Council is currently reviewing a retirement reform agreement for public safety employees that will save $1.2 billion over 30 years. The savings includes $45 million in the coming budget year alone.

That $45 million in savings is enough to prevent most of the difficult cuts to libraries, community centers, and public safety that are being discussed to close the deficit.

In fact, over the next five years, the difference between passing retirement reform and not passing retirement reform is nearly $100 million in the city budget. Imagine if we had that $100 million to invest in our city’s future.

Our community has experienced several years of great economic challenge. But we are beginning to turn the corner. In July 2011, Jacksonville’s unemployment rate was 11.2 percent. Today, it is 7 percent. Twenty thousand people have left the unemployment rolls in two years. Forbes ranked Jacksonville the number three city in America to find a job. Housing starts have increased 22 percent this year.

Jacksonville is gaining momentum because we have all worked together to build the right environment for economic growth. Passing reform – and avoiding tax increases or deep spending cuts – will keep that momentum going and help our city prosper.

To learn more about the 2013-14 budget proposal, visit coj.net

http://www.coj.net/

Sincerely,
Alvin Brown