Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan presented her $2 billion budget proposal on Monday to the Jacksonville City Council, highlighting efforts to streamline permit processes for small businesses, address affordable housing and homelessness, meet public safety needs, continue to improve literacy and education, and tackle blight.
“Momentum is a fragile, frail thing. We have it right now, so let’s push forward. Time is of the essence. Our new day is dawning,” Deegan said. ”To borrow a phrase, the people are coming. We are one of the fastest-growing cities in America each and every year, so we are cutting the red tape to serve our people better and faster."
Deegan touted the fact that the budget proposal does not require the city to dip into its financial reserves, partly because of a one-time agreement with JEA to increase the utility’s contribution to the city.
The mayor explained that the additional revenue from JEA will go toward one-time cost projects the city has already committed to, like building a new $3.5 million Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department training facility.
Deegan’s budget for the 2026 Capital Improvement Plan is $687 million.
READ: Mayor’s full budget address | Budget highlights | Full budget proposal | Full CIP proposal
Council President Kevin Carrico, who has publicly disagreed with the mayor on some key issues, said he was encouraged.
“When the mayor started speaking about the improvements in literacy and talking about the schools and getting ‘A’ grades...I mean, those are things that really warm my heart, so I was really encouraged by that. And as we go forward, we get to actually dive in and look at the details,” Carrico said.
Now begins the process of council members seeing what works and what changes may come.
Under the law, the final budget must be approved by the full City Council before Oct. 1, the first day of the city’s fiscal year. Typically, the City Council votes on the budget during its last council meeting in September, which falls on the fourth Tuesday of each September.
Public safety
Deegan said her allocation of $638 million for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office delivers on every request made by Sheriff T.K. Waters.
The JFRD budget is at $387 million.
Combined, that includes $100.1 million increases in JSO and JFRD salary and pension benefits to recruit and retain first responders.
Deegan said the historic contracts from both agencies have resulted in better recruitment, with JSO applications increasing by nearly 50%.
The JFRD budget includes $18.1 million in new fire station construction, $3.4 million for equipment, $7.5 million for cardiac monitors and 22 added positions to staff the new Fire Station No. 66.
JSO’s budget includes $1.6 million for equipment and seven support positions with another $2 million to fund the Jacksonville Journey Forward violence reduction initiative.
Literacy & higher education
The mayor has been pushing her River City Readers literacy initiative, and her budget proposal includes $1.4 million for library renovations and $500,000 for additional library materials.
There’s also funding for improvements at two private universities in Jacksonville.
The budget includes $8.7 million for Edward Waters University and $2 million to build a sports facility on the campus of Jacksonville University.
Economic development
Deegan also emphasized that while the city is growing, local government is not.
“We are one of the fastest-growing cities in America each and every year, so we are cutting the red tape to serve our people better and faster,” Deegan said. “I remain committed to making Jacksonville the small business capital of the Southeast, and in order to get there, we have to create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and workers alike.”
Part of that involves supporting Jax Hub, a fintech industry incubator, with $100,000 and a $1 million investment for a Jacksonville Urban League community and workforce center.
Affordable housing
Deegan’s allocation to address homelessness was a bone of contention in her last budget, with the City Council slashing her requested $11.2 million to $2.2 million.
Deegan has gone big again this year, requesting more than $12 million in affordable housing and homelessness programs, including down payment assistance for those seeking to be homeowners, emergency rental and eviction diversion, shelter bed expansion, transitional housing and other programs.
Infrastructure
The mayor has requested a 64% increase ($51 million) in funding for roadway surfacing, sidewalk repairs and construction, and intersection improvements.
And the process of removing septic tanks across the city continues, with $9.2 million earmarked for the projects.
She also requested an additional $1 million to address reducing litter and blight, following her recently announced “Keep Jax Cute, Don’t Pollute” campaign.
Budget breakdown
- General Fund Budget: $2 billion
- FY26 Capital Improvement Plan: $687 million
- 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan: $1.7 billion
Infrastructure:
- $51 million for roadway surfacing, sidewalk repair and new construction, intersection improvements (64% increase)
- $2.6 million for improvements to city-owned buildings
- $1 million for litter and blight reduction efforts
- $500,000 for new trash and recycling bins
- $9.2 million for septic tank removal
- $20.4 million for drainage projects
- $1.25 million for resilience infrastructure improvements
- $250,000 to plan for long-term growth and zoning requirements
Public safety:
- $100.1 million increases in JSO and JFRD salary and pension benefits to recruit and retain first responders
- $18.1 million in new fire station construction, $3.4 million for JFRD equipment, $7.5 million for cardiac monitors, 22 positions for new Fire Station #66
- $1.6 million for JSO equipment, 7 support positions
- $2 million for Jacksonville Journey Forward
- $3.5 million for firefighter training building
- $50,000 for cooling and warming center operations
Economic development:
- $100,000 for Jax Hub, a fintech industry incubator
- $1 million for Jacksonville Urban League community and workforce center
- $2.5 million for city’s final share of raising powerlines near JAXPORT
- $46.8 million in previous Downtown Investment Authority commitments
- $18.1 million in previous Office of Economic Development commitments
Housing & homelessness:
- More than $12 million in affordable housing and homelessness programs
- Local capital stack fund, downpayment assistance, utility connection fee support, emergency rental and eviction diversion
- Shelter bed expansion, outreach team, transitional housing, mental health and chronic homeless offenders, homelessness prevention vouchers, Urban Rest Stop
- $500,000 for housing services from Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
Health:
- $7.1 million for health program: Healthlink Jax telehealth, eldercare food insecurity, JaxCare Connect safety net care, pediatric mental health and 988 call center, dental access, infant mortality, congenital syphilis screening
- $56 million for UF Health care for vulnerable citizens
- $500,000 for ER social workers
- $300,000 for food desert study
Parks & recreation:
- $87.5 million for downtown riverfront parks construction
- $26 million for park improvements
- $500,000 for pool maintenance, $1.9 million for lifeguards
- $750,000 for maintenance of community/senior centers and playgrounds
Youth, literacy & higher education:
- $1.4 million in library renovations
- $500,000 for additional library materials
- $49.8 million in Kids Hope Alliance program funding
- $250,000 for program supporting military children
- $8.7 million for Edward Waters University
- $2 million for a sports facility on the Jacksonville University campus
Community outreach:
- $6.5 million in Community Benefits Agreement funding (Eastside: $4 million, Countywide: $2.5 million)
- $237,500 for State of Jax data initiative
- $2 million for Veterans Memorial Wall shade structure
- $509,000 for the Equestrian Center
- $250,000 for United Way 211
Arts, culture & entertainment:
- $7 million for Cultural Council grants
- $500,000 for the Jacksonville Symphony
City council initiatives:
- $9.4 million for Strategic Plan programming
- $14 million in Community Benefits Agreement funding for council district projects (14 districts)
