Comments on: How New Media is Shaping the Budget Debate: The Discussion Has Begun

By: reneebrust

reneebrust — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:33:34 +0000

The "meeting" last night at the Ritz Theatre turned into a very lively town hall, with standing room only. At one point during the Q+A with Mayor Peyton, a gentleman delivered a couple of dollars to the front of the room, asking the mayor to put them towards saving the Ritz. It prompted a lot of laughs but everyone recognizes it is a crunch time for Jax.

Next opportunity to hear about the budget: Thursday, July 16th.

We've got a lunch (yes, you have to bring your own) with the mayor from NOON to 1 p.m. at the Brown-Eastside Branch Library, 1390 Harrison St.

If you can't make that, consider coming to the Town Hall, also on Thursday, July 16. This one begins at 6:30 p.m. at Ed White High School, 1700 Old Middleburg Road. It will conclude at 8:30 p.m. Mayor, senior staff, and department heads will be there and all will be available for questions about their budgets and the work that they do.

If you have questions, this is the time to start asking...

By: reneebrust

reneebrust — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:33:34 +0000

By: Joey Marchy

Joey Marchy — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:32:19 +0000

Josh this sounds like a very reasonable argument. I would also support a county sales tax, in addition to paying a millage increase if it will help make Jacksonville a competitive city.

I too am looking forward to what might come out of the current courthouse facilities. Let's just hope it's not another Shipyards or collapsing condo parking deck. Sheesh.

By: Josh Walls

Josh Walls — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:04:20 +0000

I think that if the city needs more revenue in order to preserve certain services that we all enjoy from time to time then the leadership needs to come up with a way to raise that revenue. However, I agree with previous posts that over (at least) the Peyton administration spending has been at times frivolous and saving has been slim. And I find it frustrating to no end that there is no real accountability for the misdoings of this administration and that if we, the tax payers, have to bail the city government out after years of loudly voiced concern there is nothing to stop it from happening again.

That being said, I disagree with Joey's endorsement of raising the millage rate on property taxes. It shouldn't be the sole burden of home owners in Jacksonville to supply the needed revenue. (Although, FINALLY finishing the new county courthouse could bring some nice tax revenue from the two prime river-front lots being occuupied by the old courthouse but that's another discussion entirely.) I don't know what the answer is but if anything is going to be taxed it should be something to which everyone may contribute. Perhaps a county sales tax of 1%…

By: hiddentrack

hiddentrack — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:55:19 +0000

I've always been responsible with my money, and I expect my elected representatives, whether I voted for them or not, to do the same. Taking a lesson from the Bible, you store your surplus from the seven years of plenty to prepare for and protect yourself from the seven years of famine. Unfortunately the city has found itself experiencing a budgetary famine. There's no way to hide the fact that they didn't prepare themselves, not only when the economy was at its "best", but also when all signs were pointing to a looming downturn in the economy.

For that reason, and many others, no matter what side of the issue you find yourself on, there's a lot to be upset about in terms of how the city has been managing its money. There may be a time when you can stand up and proclaim that you will not put more money into their outstretched hands, but I don't think that time is now.

I agree with Joey's comment on UJW that, perhaps, these may simply be scare tactics. But if the millage rate increase is not passed, is the city going to terminate the services they say are on the chopping block? I'm not sure what debts the city has now, but preserving even a portion of those services without the rate increase will only cause our financial situation to worsen.

If I'm not mistaken, one of the reasons JEA has needed to raise its rates in recent years was because they operated so long in debt. Asking our city to do the same only shifts the burden to our children. Are the people of Jacksonville really going to be that selfish?

Personally, I'd like to see the mayor go further. We need to do more than simply preserve the status quo. We need to reinvest in the future of this community. That won't be possible if we find ourselves deep in debt. We'll be in a hole that is too deep to escape from. Scratch that, the city will be in that hole. Those of us who are looking for more from their leaders will be forced to find some place new to call home.

By: skink

skink — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:33:13 +0000

My antenna go up anytime the consolidated government embraces ANYTHING.
Usually that means some semi successful outlet for criticism is about to be co-opted.

a good start however…just remember
transparency is the new objectivity.

By: TheUrbanCore

TheUrbanCore — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:11:47 +0000

Interesting take on the property value. I guess the whole country is getting a BIG tax cut this year. Jim Overton could run on his experience this year cutting the snot out of taxes. He will be cutting a LOT more if all your libraries, museums, parks, and services shutter.

I think that one can support a millage increase without being naive nor in cahoots. Great points on waste and corruption. I think many of the things mentioned are passive or bureaucratic or lazy flaws or even crappy lawyering. Not all but many. We do have a lot of work to do. Most folks like you and I have made up our minds.

What it comes down to, to me, is which council persons have the balls to raise taxes when we need to. And we need to. Just my opinion of course. Great conversation though.

By: Joey Marchy

Joey Marchy — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:55:33 +0000

The track record is a disgrace and it's very hard to argue with all those points. So I won't. I wish more than increasing the millage, we could go back in time and fix all those things. But we can't, hence the somewhat tongue-in-cheek "Fix It Now" message being broadcast by the mayors office.

While it sucks that all those things happened I think we need to find a way to come together as a community and do what's best for the city. Instead of turing our back on a city government who should have asked for help a long time ago, listen and participate in the dialog.

You seem pretty smart and reasonable YadaYada, do you plan on attending any of the meetings or live chats?

By: Joey Marchy

Joey Marchy — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:45:10 +0000

Using new/social media extends our reach exponentially. A message has the potential to ripple much further than a single status update or tweet. One friend can tell a friend that tells 10 friends.

While there is still value in posting on websites, there is added value in using these additional NM channels. It's about reaching people in their online habitat.

By: Joey Marchy

Joey Marchy — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:41:06 +0000

Thank you Renee. I'm going to try to make it to the library today at 1:00. Depends on how much work I can get done between now and then.