JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Donna Deegan is pushing what she considers a major investment in Jacksonville’s first responders, with more than $1 billion of her $2 billion budget proposal designated for public safety.
The proposal, which Deegan presented to the City Council on Monday, focuses on recruitment, retention, and better resources for both the sheriff’s office and firefighters.
Broken down, $638 million is allocated for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and $387 million is her proposed budget for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
Deegan said her allocation for JSO delivers on every request made by Sheriff T.K. Waters.
“Our commitment to public safety -- to the men and women who put their lives on the line for us -- is a solemn promise and one that we will always keep,” Deegan said.
Part of that more than $1 billion for public safety includes $100.1 million in increases for 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.
Other public safety highlights:
- $2 million for Jacksonville Journey Forward
- $3.5 million for firefighter training building
- $50,000 for cooling and warming center operations
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 the new $3.5 million Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department training facility.
READ: Mayor’s full budget address | Budget highlights | Full budget proposal | Full CIP proposal
The City Council Finance Committee will review the plan and may suggest changes. Their first meeting on the budget is scheduled for Aug. 7.
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.
