JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) Board of Directors voted unanimously on Monday to approve two resolutions, one opposing proposed budget changes and another opposing a proposed bill.
JAA said the first resolution opposes amendments proposed by the Jacksonville City Council to change the organization’s 2026 budget. The board of directors also voted to oppose Resolution 2025-695, which seeks changes to JAA’s charter through the State Legislature.
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According to officials, the first resolution in opposition to City Council’s amendments to the JAA’s 2026 budget stems from a legal opinion the JAA received from the law firm of Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC. The opinion, which was partially written by a retired Florida Supreme Court Justice, encouraged the JAA Board to pass a resolution rejecting City Council’s changes.
The firm found that adopting City Council’s amendments would “result in multiple forms of revenue diversion, placing both the City of Jacksonville and JAA in danger of potentially severe federal penalties.” It goes on to state that “knowingly violating federal law would be as ill-advised as it sounds and, standing alone, fully justifies rejecting the amendment. Adopting City Council’s Amendments would also repeal JAA’s extant agreement with Million Air and force JAA to breach that contract.”
The second resolution opposes Resolution 2025-695, which was submitted without JAA’s support, officials said. This legislation asks the Florida State Legislature to consider and approve Local Bill J-2 which seeks changes to JAA’s charter.
Officials said, if approved at the state level, the proposed legislation would rename the organization to the Jacksonville Aviation and Aerospace Authority, assign authority and responsibility for the economic development of Cecil Airport and require at least one of the Mayoral appointees and one of the Governor appointees of the JAA board “be from the aerospace or related industry.”
The JAA Board of Directors also voted to confirm a new slate of officers for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
David Hodges will serve as the incoming board chair, and Fernando Acosta-Rua will serve as the new vice chair. Sol Brotman and Bill Gulliford will repeat their roles as treasurer and secretary, respectively.