09:38 PM EST Share City lawmakers aim for a final vote on the proposed tax increase for $1 billion in infrastructure before the end of May.
City lawmakers cut $132 million from the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s Downtown Skyway modernization in a proposal to increase and extend Duval County local option gas tax.
The Jacksonville City Council voted 16-2 on May 12 in favor of an amendment by Ron Salem to reduce money for the JTA project in Ordinance 2021-0223.
The amendment was added during the Council Committee of the Whole meeting and is the first substantive change to Mayor Lenny Curry and JTA’s proposed Duval County gas tax increase from 6 cents to 12 cents per gallon.
09:15 PM EST Share The Northeast Florida business group says Jacksonville City Council should pass the bill but reduce money for JTA’s Skyway upgrades to $190 million.
Plans to increase the Duval County gas tax to pay for nearly $1 billion in transportation projects gained the endorsement of the Jacksonville Civic Council on May 10, but millions in the plan to modernize the Downtown Skyway could instead go toward the creation of the Emerald Trail network of parks.
The Civic Council urged city lawmakers to pass a proposed increase and extension to Duval County’s local option gas tax to pay for nearly $1 billion in transportation projects, but reduce the amount planned to modernize the Skyway.
The JAX Chamber board of directors endorsed Mayor Lenny Curry and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s proposal to increase and extend Duval County’s local option gas tax to pay for nearly $1 billion in infrastructure projects.
In a news release April 22, the Northeast Florida business membership group announced its board voted unanimously to support the gas tax legislation filed this week by City Council President Tommy Hazouri at Curry’s request.
The release also reaffirmed the chamber’s support for JTA’s plan to expand and modernize the Downtown Skyway that the authority calls the Ultimate Urban Circulator.
JTA officials propose spending nearly $372 million in gas tax money to fund the $415.96 million U2C project.
02:17 PM EST Share The 6-cent increase at the pump would fund nearly $1 billion in city and JTA infrastructure projects, including $372 million for the Downtown Skyway.
Mayor Lenny Curry filed legislation with City Council to partner with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to extend and double Duval County’s local option gas tax to pay for nearly $1 billion in infrastructure projects.
During a Council workshop April 21, President Tommy Hazouri said he and the Curry administration will file a bill concurrently that would use money freed by added gas tax revenue to spend about $100 million over two years to remove aging septic tanks and connect underserved neighborhoods to city sewers.
03:16 PM EST Share The Jacksonville mayor told a business group March 30 he wants City Council members to propose additional projects in need of funding.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry says city general revenue money freed by a proposed gas tax increase could pay for projects in addition to septic tank removal.
At a March 30 meeting with the Southside Business Men’s Club, Curry said he wants to hear from City Council members where the unencumbered money should be spent.
“The big proposal is septic tanks. We have neglected septic tanks for decades because the problem is too big. It’s a multibillion project. We’re going to take a bite out of the apple,” Curry said.