Mayor Deegan 2024-25 Budget Speech

Mayor Donna Deegan presented the proposed 2024-2025 budget to the Jacksonville City Council this morning. The proposal includes a $1.92 billion general fund budget and $489 million in the 2025 portion of the five-year Capital Improvement Plan, which is $1.95 billion in total from 2025-2029.
This balanced budget builds on the city’s recent successes, and it makes generational investments in the key priorities of areas of infrastructure, health, economic development, public safety, affordable housing, and homelessness. It reflects a rock-solid commitment to public safety and critical quality of life initiatives that have strong bipartisan support.
“Our proposed budget makes investments that deliver the best return for our citizens, continue to make good on the broken promises of consolidation, and create the ignition point that will take Jacksonville from potential to progress,” said Mayor Donna Deegan. “The time is now to choose what type of city we want to be. Let’s be one that lifts as we climb.”
BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
INFRASTRUCTURE
• Downtown Riverfront/Resiliency
• Metropolitan Park Marina Fire Station, Museum and Dock ($14,310,000 in 2025 / $37,590,000 total)
• Museum of Science and History ($3 million in 2025 / $50 million total)
• Northbank Riverwalk and Bulkhead, as well as Northbank Marina ($15 million in 2025 / $115 million total)
• Southbank Riverwalk - two docks, bulkhead and riverwalk development ($13.2 million)
• Parks & Libraries
• Library Renovations at Oceanway and Beaches locations ($4.2 million in FY25 / $5.5 million total)
• Park and Pool improvements at 14 facilities ($24 million)
• City Venues
• Renovations at the Ritz Theater, 121 Financial Ballpark, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, and Performing Arts Center ($25.1 million)
• Additional funding in 5-year CIP for ongoing repairs and maintenance at city venues
• Road Construction/Resilience
Annual target funding met for critical infrastructure projects including road construction, drainage, pedestrian crossings, and sidewalks. ($62 million for transportation in FY25; $21 million for drainage in FY25)
PUBLIC SAFETY
• 40 additional police officers
• New fire stations construction ($28 million)
• Additional funding for security at the Courthouse, Lonnie Miller Park, Friendship Fountain, and Riverside Skate Park ($138,119)
HEALTH
• UF Health investment to care for vulnerable citizens ($56 million)
• UF Health capital project investment ($38 million in FY 25, $24 million annually thereafter)
AFFORDABLE HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS
• Affordable Housing Loan Fund: $10 million
• Homelessness program to comply with state law: $10 million
• Eviction prevention funding: $300,000
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
• 2 positions in support of new procurement code
• Economic development investments:
o $10.5 million in previously approved Downtown Investment Authority completion grants and forgivable loans
o $24 million in Office of Economic Development grants, loans, REV grants and qualified targeted industry payments for companies that have relocated to or expanded operations in Jacksonville
COMMUNITY FUNDING
• Arts Funding/Cultural Council ($7 million)
• Public Service Grants ($7.2 million)
To view the full budget, visit: jacksonville.gov/budget
To read the mayor’s budget address, visit: jacksonville.gov/budgetaddress2024

[@carollewis927]

Love that you are a people person and how you support the city. Keep up the wonderful job you are doing for Seniors 😊

[@BettyTolen]

Thank you Mayor for the hard work and great visions for this city, hopefully I will live long enough to see the projects completed. I'm 77 years young, retired state employee took much pride in representing the State.
I'm very proud of you, attempting to creating a more safe and family friendly environment around the St Johns River and downtown.
God Bless 😊

[@JanetHealy-l2d]

Whatever it takes to follow through with your plan, I’m all for it and hope you get the support you need to bring it to fruition. You’re doing a phenomenal job as our mayor!

[@arturnnistra8183]

❤❤❤❤

[@zulu8734]

Great job, Mayor. I am impressed by your empathy for all. I am one of your hardest critics because I am disappointed by the lack of empathy for the Urban Core by the leading class before you. Once again, I salute you. I have tried many times to talk with Dennis Garret concerning civic engagement. The @aaertt has an economic development plan for the Urban Core-a plan where the African American leadership must do their part with tenacity and open-minded participation. Thank you.

[@arturnnistra8183]

Best Mayor ever.

[@scottguitar8168]

I suppose the concern for the tax payer is getting the most bang for our money which can be very subjective, nothing worse than wasteful spending and raising taxes to cover that wasteful spending. Jacksonville is certainly growing but growth isn't as important as quality. I don't really have an opinion on the budget other than a wait and see how things pan out. Sometimes we don't know until after the fact if something was a smart investment or not.

[@xitsperfection]

thanks for posting

[@ashleylitebrite6971]

Thanks for your encouragement. Our mayor is a shining star.

[@jewtheist]

So how much tax payer money are you gonna waste and how much will our property taxes go up?