Jacksonville, Florida
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In 1968, the county government of Duval County and the city government of Jacksonville consolidated so that the the Mayor of Jacksonville and the City Council of the City of Jacksonville govern throughout the county. This means that voters who live outside the Jacksonville city limits vote in elections for these positions -- and can even run for office.[1]
[edit] Website Transparency
Last rated on Jan. 23, 2012
[edit] The good
- Council members are listed with contact information.[2]
- Meeting schedule, videos[3], agendas, and minutes are available.[4]
- Current and past budgets are published. Budget development process information is also available.[5]
- Administrative officials are listed with contact information in a searchable directory.[6]
- Building permit information/forms provided[7], as well as zoning information.[8]
- Annual financial audits are published.[9]
- Tax rates and a tax estimator are provided.[10]
- Provides information on how to make public record requests.[11]
- The Tax Collector's webpage includes information regarding property taxes, local business taxes, and miscellaneous licenses, taxes and fees. Tax bills can also be viewed and printed and important tax dates are listed. Tax collector data files are available for download, including a Local Business Tax Receipt Master File. Annual Tax Reports from 2007 and 2009 are also posted.[12]
- The website includes a Sunshine Compliance list, documenting required public disclosure issues and items.[13]
- The Grants Management Office lists grant opportunities for the City of Jacksonville, events and deadlines, and state, federal and private granting organizations.[14]
- The city's Public Service Grant Program opportunities and contracts are posted.[15]
- Public notices for contractual/supplies bids are posted[16]
[edit] The bad
- Awarded bids and projects are listed but actual contracts are not online.[17]
- Information regarding city spending, such as grants awarded from the city’s Cultural Service Grant Program and a proposed study on minority and women-owned businesses, is not disclosed on the city website.[18][19]
- Includes some information on lobbying[20], but nothing on taxpayer-funded lobbying
[edit] Elected Officials
Jacksonville uses the Mayor-Council form of city government, also called the Strong Mayor form, in which a mayor serves as the city's Chief Executive and Administrative officer. The current mayor is Alvin Brown, the city's first African-American mayor who defeated establishment Republican Michael Hogan in a May 2011 political upset. At issue for voters were the 23 percent African-American male graduation rate and the high number of minority incarcerations for minor offenses. Mayor-Elect Brown succeeds current Mayor John Peyton on July 1.[21] [22]
The City Council is Jacksonville's legislative body. It is comprised of 19 Council Members elected to four-year terms and serve part-time as legislators. The city is divided into 14 single-member districts of nearly equal population. The remaining five Council Members are elected to represent At-Large. Council Members can serve no more than two consecutive terms. The Council appoints a president and vice-president every May to serve one-year terms beginning July 1. The current Council President is Stephen C. Joost.[23] [24]
Current City Council Members, as of July 1, 2011:[25]
| Member | Representation | District |
|---|---|---|
| Clay Yarborough | District 1 | District |
| William Bishop | District 2 | District |
| Richard Clark | District 3 | District |
| Don Redman | District 4 | District |
| Lory N. Boyer | District 5 | District |
| Matt Schellenberg | District 6 | District |
| Dr. John Gaffney | District 7 | District |
| E. Denise Lee | District 8 | District |
| Warren A. Jones | District 9 | District |
| Reginald L. Brown | District 10 | District |
| Ray Holt | District 11 | District |
| Doyle Carter | District 12 | District |
| Bill Gulliford | District 13 | District |
| Jim Love | District 14 | District |
| Kimberly Daniels | Group 1 | At-Large |
| John R. Crescimbeni | Group 3 | At-Large |
| Stephen C. Joost | Group 3 | At-Large |
| Greg Anderson | Group 4 | At-Large |
| Robin Lumb | Group 5 | At-Large |
According to the budget proposal for fiscal year 2010-11, Council members earn $46,575 annually; the mayor earns the top salary: $180,028.89.[26]
[edit] City Spending
Greater Jacksonville's Cultural Council recently distributed $2.6 million in annual grants from the city’s Cultural Service Grant Program to 24 local cultural organizations. The organizations had to apply for the funds and undergo a review process to receive the grants.[19]
Jacksonville City is undertaking a study on whether minority- and women-owned businesses are receiving fair consideration for government contracts. Councilwoman E. Denise Lee's actions at a recent meeting evaluating applicants for the study indicate her preference for D. Wilson Consulting Group, which has bid at almost $1 million more than the lowest-cost proposal.[18]
Mayor-elect Alvin Brown has made it clear that budget cuts will be included in the budget he presents to City Council on July 14, 2011. Previous 3 percent cuts over the past few years have allegedly compromised departments' ability to function, and Chief Finance Officer Mickey Miller is considering whether to eliminate some departments entirely. Current projects foresee a $66 million deficit for fiscal year 2012.[27]
Outgoing Mayor John Peyton has announced deals between the mayor's office and police and fire employees. The deals were part of a two-year effort to reform Jacksonville's long-term spending practices. Supporters of the two pension reform bills that will now come before the Council in late June claim that $1 billion will be saved over the next thirty-five years. However, the Council auditor's office reports that the administration has not provided them with the information necessary to confirm the estimated savings.[28]
[edit] Employee Salaries
In early 2012, Jacksonville's The Florida Times-Union requested public salary data from more than 90 North Florida government agencies for 2010-11.[29] Below are Jacksonville city employees who made more than $150,000 in 2010:[30]
| Name | Year | Employer | Base Pay | Total Pay |
| Rao, Valerie | 2010 | Jacksonville, City of | $190,172.64 | $190,172.64 |
| Giles, Jesse | 2010 | Jacksonville, City of | $179,556.39 | $179,556.39 |
| Rohan, Steven | 2010 | Jacksonville, City of | $177,429.00 | $177,429.00 |
| Sherman, Kirk | 2010 | Jacksonville, City of | $176,400.00 | $176,400.00 |
| Chastain, Karen | 2010 | Jacksonville, City of | $165,237.76 | $165,237.76 |
| Maltz, Howard | 2010 | Jacksonville, City of | $160,837.64 | $160,837.64 |
| Belton, Clarence | 2010 | Jacksonville, City of | $156,999.96 | $156,999.96 |
| Miller, George | 2010 | Jacksonville, City of | $156,710.28 | $156,710.28 |
| Barton, Ronald | 2010 | Jacksonville, City of | $152,070.32 | $152,070.32 |
| Nicolaescu, Aurelian | 2010 | Jacksonville, City of | $151,533.91 | $151,533.91 |
[edit] Lobbying
- Main articles: Florida taxpayer-funded lobbying and Florida League of Cities.
Jacksonville has reported $2,550,000 spent on lobbying since 2000 (see table).
| Year | Amount spent on lobbying |
|---|---|
| 2010 | $210,000 |
| 2009 | $400,000 |
| 2008 | $360,000 |
| 2007 | $360,000 |
| 2006 | $200,000 |
| 2005 | $260,000 |
| 2004 | $400,000 |
| 2003 | $280,000 |
| 2002 | $260,000 |
| 2001 | $120,000 |
| 2000 | $120,000 |
Jacksonville pays membership dues[32] to the Florida League of Cities, a taxpayer-funded lobbying association.
[edit] Public employee salaries
- Main article: Jacksonville employee salaries
[edit] External links
- Official website of the City of Jacksonville
- Jacksonville profile on City Data
- City's public records procedures discussed today, Daily Record, March 11, 2009
- Ethics Subcommitte hears complaints on records access, Daily Record, March 12, 2009
- Jacksonville city employees' overtime millions over limit, Jacksonville News, April 27, 2009
- Budget committee diving in, Daily Record, June 17, 2011
- Council to vote on pension reform Tuesday, Daily Record, June 22, 2011
- Jacksonville, Florida on Wikipedia
[edit] References
- ↑ Jacksonville, Florida
- ↑ City Council
- ↑ Meetings online
- ↑ Meetings
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Directory
- ↑ Permits
- ↑ Planning & Development
- ↑ CAFR
- ↑ Millage Rates
- ↑ Public Records Requests
- ↑ Tax Collector Homepage
- ↑ Sunshine Compliance
- ↑ Grants Management Office
- ↑ Public Service Grant Program
- ↑ Procurement Division bids
- ↑ Contracts & Bids
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 'The Florida Times-Union,' Jacksonville city contract held pending review of meeting, October 12, 2010
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 'The Florida Times-Union,' Jacksonville-area arts organizations get almost $2.6M in grants from city, October 12, 2010
- ↑ Lobbying
- ↑ Governmental structure
- ↑ Surprise Dem. mayoral victory
- ↑ Jacksonville City Council
- ↑ 2011 city council budget
- ↑ City Council Members
- ↑ Council salaries
- ↑ Possible departmental cuts
- ↑ pension reform
- ↑ Salary findings for North Florida government agencies
- ↑ [=88 Jacksonville salaries]
- ↑ Open Secrets
- ↑ Membership Directory
