City Council members have already started speaking to voters in their districts about extending a half-cent sales tax for 30 years.
Some voters need clarification. Others want to know what’s in it for them.
Those are answers that will come in the next several months, but for now the message is getting out through efforts that began even before Gov. Rick Scott signed the referendum bill into law Friday.
“I’ve already been reaching out to some of my community leaders,” City Council member Reggie Gaffney said Wednesday. “I did it today, I’ve done it the last couple of days.”
He represents District 7, part of the urban core. It’s an area he said hasn’t always received its “fair share” when it comes to tax dollars and past initiatives like the Better Jacksonville Plan.
That’s been an early concern from some of his constituents as he’s been making the the rounds selling the merits of extending the sales tax.
That money will be used to expedite paying down the city’s $2.7 billion in unfunded pension liabilities, which should free up millions annually for priorities like public safety and infrastructure.
“I want to make sure no community gets left behind,” said Gaffney.
He said he’s confident that won’t happen, but would like any legislation to feature language that would codify such intentions.
He uses failing bridges and crime as areas where an influx of freed-up money could help in his district.
Council member Katrina Brown has been hearing from her constituents about the issue, too. Since council signed off on sending the idea to Tallahassee several months back, Brown has received hundreds of questions.
Typically the first one is a matter of education.
“They don’t want a tax increase,” she said of early inquiries. “I let them know it’s not.”
Brown said any campaign Mayor Lenny Curry will implement needs to address that issue first — voters will need to know they won’t be paying additional taxes.
She said the follow-up is one she can’t answer right now, but like Gaffney’s constituents, it’s on their minds. If they aren’t a police or fire member, what’s in it for them?
“I think it’s going to be tough because a lot of constituents … they were made promises that weren’t kept,” she said, referring to projects that weren’t completed through the Better Jacksonville Plan and consolidation.
One council member who will especially be active in selling pension will be President Greg Anderson, who serves as the face of the council until July 1.
The role often comes with speaking engagements with civic groups and associations all over the city, along with media opportunities.
Anderson is an at-large member with no defined district, making all of Jacksonville his district.
He’s been selling the benefits of pension reform, but part of any detailed discussion with voters in the coming months will need more facts. Facts that will have to come from Curry and his team regarding the impact on future budgets.
“It has to start with the facts,” Anderson said. “Until we’re able to understand how this solution would affect near-term budgets, it won’t be as effective. … This needs to add up.”
Explaining it in a way council members can relay to their voters is the first step, he said.
The second will be explaining the tangible benefits for residents.
Whether that means money can be used to hire a specific number of public safety members or complete certain projects, Anderson said it will be about improving quality of life.
Efforts by Curry and others have brought the issue this far.
If it’s to succeed before voters, he’ll need to reach every part of Jacksonville — an effort with which council can be vital.
Curry has said the voter push will require a full campaign, funded by private dollars.
Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa told a group of former elected officials the effort could cost $3 million to $4 million.
Kerri Stewart, Curry’s chief of staff, said the administration is working on questions those council members have, which include whether the ballot initiative will be in August or November and the numbers behind any deal.
She was thrilled to hear council members already are in their districts pitching the merits of reform.
When those details are finalized, council will be know immediately.
“They will be the first group we go to,” said Stewart.
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