Clark Folds, Tax Increase Coming

When Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton proposed a tax increase in July to deal with the city's massive budget deficit, new Council President Richard Clark was quick to announce his opposition.  Addressing the Mayor's plan at the time, Clark said that there was sufficient fat in the budget that should be cut before a tax increase was proposed.  Clark moved quickly to back up his assertion, proposing further cuts to the city's libraries, special events funding and Sheriff's Office.  He made the media rounds, assuring Jacksonville residents on numerous occasions that he was confident ample cuts could be achieved that would allow the Council to avoid a tax increase.

To many political observers; however, it was obvious rather quickly that Clark's political skills were less than first-rate.  Proposals to cut the Veteran's Day parade and the annual Memorial Wall installation ceremony were met with outrage in a town that sees itself as a military community.  Further proposals to slash library hours in low-income neighborhoods and eliminate programs for senior citizens brought another wave of criticism.  In the end, Clark apparently felt he had no choice other than to fold like a Dollar General tent.

What was interesting throughout the process; however, were the proposals that were never seriously considered.  There was no serious discussion over scaling down some of the Assistant Manager Improvement Officer (AMIO) positions that have ballooned in the last four years from $7.5 million to $11.2 million.  The Council certainly didn't dwell too long on the possibility of trimming their staff and there was also no earnest debate on any real trimming of their own salaries and benefits.  There was no time spent highlighting things the city could do differently, such as reforming the procurement process and seeking to achieve savings by capitalizing on the possibilities of the buying powers of the city and its independent agencies.  And, while it's impossible to know for certain at this stage, it's unlikely any significant concessions will come out of the negotiations with the city's three main unions.

So, after all of the heated rhetoric, voters are left wondering what, if anything, has really changed.  One thing is certain---the Council does need to be involved in the budget process earlier than they have been in the past.  Council Vice President Jack Webb has said he is looking for ways to improve the process next year, particularly in light of the fact that next year's budget process is predicted to be just as--it not more--painful than this years.  Here's hoping we've learned at least that lesson.

Tags: Budget, Budget Deficit, Jacksonville City Council, John Peyton, Local Politics, Richard Clark, Tax Increase, Unions

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 5:36 AM and is filed under Local Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.