In the first of a planned series of town halls on her next proposed budget, Mayor Donna Deegan urged a crowd of about 200 people in Northwest Jacksonville to press their representatives on the Jacksonville City Council to support her spending priorities.
Speaking at the Legends Center on Jan. 27, Deegan told the audience that her administration was focused on moving projects in Council districts 7, 8, 9 and 10 to the “front of the line” for funding and completion.
Those districts are in the north, central and western portions of the city, where Deegan said city investment had languished.
“It takes a while to turn the wheel,” she said.
“I need you, because I’ve got a lot of folks who push back. You know it. You watch it. So I need your voices. What I’m saying is I need your involvement. I need you to show up at Council meetings, I need you to vote.”
Deegan highlighted five projects in districts 7 through 10: Replacement of the Harts Road Bridge, beautification along Moncrief Road, safety improvements at Armsdale and Duval roads, new sidewalks along Sibbald Road and pavement repairs for Broward Road. Together, the city plans to spend $34 million on those improvements.
At least 20 people lined up at the microphone when Deegan invited audience members to ask questions and provide input on budget priorities.
One resident questioned whether Deegan would increase the budget for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after Sheriff T.K. Waters recently expressed support for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed immigration policies, which include requiring Florida law enforcement officials to participate with the federal government in the enforcement of immigration laws.
“I will say I do think it’s important to have enough police on the street to keep us safe,” she said, noting that the 59 murders recorded in Jacksonville during 2024 were the fewest since at least 1995 and were less than half the number reported in 2023. I’m not going to throw everybody into a pot and say there’s a problem here. I’m very sensitive on this issue, and I’m hopeful we’ll be respectful of people’s dignity.”
Deegan’s proposed 2024-25 budget contained funding for 40 new police officer positions for JSO, funded under a portion of a $6.28 million increase in salaries for JSO patrol and enforcement operations. It’s part of a plan to add 200 officers to the JSO’s force.
Plans for the city to build a forensic lab and morgue in Brentwood prompted a complaint from a resident who said those operations ran counter to a statement by Deegan that she prioritizes budget items that improve community health and safety.
Deegan said plans for the forensic lab and morgue were launched by a previous administration and that she could not “singlehandedly change legislation that has already been put in place.”
She said she and her administration were working with attorneys involved in a lawsuit on the issue and offered to work with the neighborhood to create a zoning overlay that would protect against similar developments in the future.
The schedule for Deegan’s remaining town halls is:
• 6 p.m. Feb. 4, Ed White High School, 1700 Old Middleburg Road N.
• 7 p.m. Feb. 5, Beaches Watch Meeting at Beaches Branch Library, 600 Third St., Neptune Beach
• 6 p.m. Feb. 18, Atlantic Coast High School, 9735 RG Skinner Parkway
• 6 p.m. March 4, Riverside High School, 1200 McDuff Ave. S.
• 6 p.m. March 11, First Coast High School, 590 Duval Station Road
Each meeting is scheduled for 90 minutes except for Feb. 5, which will be a one-hour session.
Deegan must submit a 2025-26 city budget to Council in July and Council must adopt a budget before Oct. 1.