Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton has proposed a hike in the city‘s property tax rate for the first time in 17 years.
He’s asking for a millage increase of 1.2 mils. A hike from 8.4 mils to 9.6, the same level the millage rate was before the state legislature began passing legislation cutting millage rates statewide.
Mayor Peyton says it will cost the average homeowner about $115 a year, but if it is not passed, the city will have to close fire stations, libraries, community centers, the Ritz Museum and the Equestrian Center. He also says events like the Jazz Festival and the World of Nations would have to be discontinued
The Mayor says he’ll go to the community with town meetings to explain why he believes the tax hike is needed. What do you think?
You can here is entire presentation on line via our web site at http://www.wjct.org/mp3/JUN09/jun25km2.mp3
The Mayor’s web site regarding the property tax hike is available at http://www.fixitnow.cc/
- Kevin Meerschaert, WJCT News
Photo by Kevin Meerschaert
Tags: fix it now, jacksonville, kevin meerschaert, mayor peyton, tax hike, taxes, WJCT
June 27, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Mayor peyton has not convinced me of a necessary tax hike. He has not stopped the waste and abuse within city Governement. I have timed up to 17 city vehicles wasteing gas at a rate of 1/2 gallon/hr while sitting idle so the operator can enjoy a/c while doing paperwork. He has not stopped the waste called the New Justice Building at which I beleive we will top 400 million before it is finished so Judges can be in luxury??? He has stated he donated his annual raises to the United Way – gee all he is doing is getting a bigger tax break on his taxes while he wants to raise our taxes!!!!!!!!!! Our Sheriff’s force is out of control speeding around town wasting gas, doing no real police work (I have observed police ignoring law breakers because they are talking on their personnal cell phones and ignoring these law breakers). JEA has people sitting in their trucks for long periods of time wasting time and gas. I beleive the Mayor has done nothing for Jax in 7 years and should just be quiet for the remainder of his time and look internally at cost cutting such as getting rid of half hois staff and reimbursing the County for that fake trip to Paris that resulted in no real businesses coming to Jax.
July 1, 2009 at 9:18 am
I agree with Mr. Carey, if we are in need of money why build a $400 million dollar court house? Why cant we do as we have done in he pass, and that is find a building like we did when we found May Cohens and gut it out and renovate it like we did for the City hall. However I think that the mayor has a underline reason for building this court house and that is to put a feather in his cap so that when he leaves office he can look back at his so call accomplishments,i.e The Court House
July 1, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I agree with Mr. Carey, Either refurbish the old or trim the cost off the new , this isn’t rocket science. The better Jacksonville plan may have said a new courthouse It did not say spend $400million! , I don’t think the thugs should enjoy all those amenities .
July 5, 2009 at 10:00 am
I also agree. In answer to “What kind of city do I want to live in?” The answer is….one that has a Mayor who does not want to cut recycling, rape counseling, emergency services to balance his budget.
Mayor Peyton, you are trying to take Jacksonville back into the past with your poor vision and ideas. You sound a little self serving. I still say no to property tax increases. Perhaps we should use one of our many abandoned businesses to refurbish for a courthouse. There are many! Reuse, recycle. We need alot of things, but not higher taxes.
July 14, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Mayor Peyton has not convinced me of the need to place the burden of the budget shortfall on the backs of property owners. There are still cuts which can be made that will not affect the quality of life for citizens. The threats being used to close fire stations and libraries are efforts to scare people into allowing the city to continue life as they have known it. I am among many citizens who are retired and live on a fixed income. The social security admin has already said there will be no cost of living increase for seniors. If those who attend the Ritz Theatre and equestrian center wish to continue use, then let them bear the costs of keeping them in operation. There should be NO further increase in taxes. If you will look at such things as electric , telephone and gas bills, you will see how the city is raking in hidden taxes from those sources as well. If I added up all the tax that I pay the city of Jacksonville I would be astounded. We all must send the strong signal that we have had enough taxes.!!
July 16, 2009 at 10:22 am
John Peyton is proposing to raise your property taxes. This is the first time property tax has been raised in Duval County in 17 years!
Raising property taxes in addition to Peyton’s three new fees will set up a financial crisis for already struggling families.
Many residents in Duval County are unemployed, under-worked, upside down, and delinquent in their mortgages due to the economy. We can’t afford any more taxes right now.
Peyton just finished imposing 3 new taxes that we already can not afford.
Forbes magazine predicts Jacksonville will be the foreclosure capital of the U.S. (Forbes.com 10/20/08). Property tax increases will not help!
Government spending in Jacksonville is at an all time high with spending increasing at over twice the rate of the economy over the past eight years.
Despite Peyton’s claims to have cut spending, city spending has increased over $100 million in the past 3 years (Florida Times Union 6/27/09).
Peyton added the $30+ million Jacksonville Journey entitlement just last year; we can no longer afford such programs at the expense of public safety, libraries and parks.
Why is Peyton threatening to cut the most vital services while continuing to fund such luxuries as: The Jacksonville Journey, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, Jacksonville Children’s Commission?
Families and small business have to prioritize budgets and make sacrifices; municipal governments should not be exempt from the hard choices that we are faced with.
We must hold Mayor Peyton accountable to his promise that he would not raise taxes. A promise is a promise!