The proposed doubling of Jacksonville s local gas tax has won backing from the Jacksonville Civic Council, but the influential group of business leaders said the amount of local money spent on converting the Skyway system should be cut in half so $190 million of gas tax dollars go to other transportation projects.
The Civic Council weighed in Monday as proposed proposed amendments to the legislation will be coming fast and furious in the final weeks of deliberation by Jacksonville City Council.
City Council will decide whether to add 10 years to the current 6 cents per gallon local gas tax, which is set to expire in 2036, and add another 6 cents for a 30 year period. That would double the 6 cent gas tax to 12 cents per gallon.
COMMENTARY | Jacksonville is staring down the barrel of a lost decade: 10 years of squandered possibilities in downtown; another generation gone by without atoning for the city s original sin failing to provide basic infrastructure, like drinkable water, to every neighborhood; time running out, time running short, time running thin.
And to watch any one of the many dreary, endless Jacksonville City Council meetings these days is to understand, in the grainy clarity of public-access TV, why the city has reached this breaking point: A maddening vortex of cowardice, infighting, incompetence, egos, and transactional behavior. They are sinking us all.
At this late hour the city has a mayor, Lenny Curry, who is, yes, flawed, and who has, yes, generated some well-earned skepticism of his administration along the way. But he is also a mayor who is at this moment interested in pumping $1 billion back into the city, most of which will go toward long-needed road projects and some
Two Jacksonville City Council members said Thursday it would be best for voters to make the call on whether to raise the local gas tax by putting that choice on the ballot in a countywide referendum.
Council members Aaron Bowman and LeAnna Cumber said they would support having the referendum, marking the first time any council members have said that should be the route for a decision. I can honestly tell you I ve gotten zero emails or calls supporting this initiative and I ve gotten hundreds saying Please don t do this to me, Bowman said during a special meeting.
Some other council members spoke in favor increasing the gas tax during the meeting devoted to the Jobs for Jax proposal put forward by Mayor Lenny Curry and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority for doing $930 million of road, drainage and transit projects.
Gas tax proposal draws criticism from some Jacksonville council members
Some city council members opposed to the tax also discussed the idea of letting citizens vote on the proposed six-cent gas sales tax increase. Author: Troy Kless (First Coast News) Published: 7:43 PM EDT April 29, 2021 Updated: 12:10 AM EDT April 30, 2021
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Smooth roads, sidewalks, drainage improvements, and a new and improved Skyway. It s all part of a plan to improve city infrastructure using revenue from a gas tax hike.
The city council got to discuss some of their concerns in a Thursday morning meeting.
The proverbial tank of city and JTA funding could fill up with a gas tax increase.
City council floats idea of allowing voters to decide on gas tax
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City council floats idea of allowing voters to decide on gas tax
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The proposal to double the gas tax in Duval County is raising some concerns, not only with motorists but with members of the Jacksonville City Council. Now, some members want to let the public vote on the issue.
Those concerns were part of the discussion Thursday during a special city council meeting.
The council is being asked by Mayor Lenny Curry’s administration and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to raise the local gas tax from 6 cents a gallon to 12 cents a gallon.