The Finance Committee on March 20 deferred a funding decision on a $100,000 appropriation intended to support the national neighborhoods conference hosted in Jacksonville. The committee decided to remove the bill’s emergency clause and defer consideration to allow follow‑up about funding sources and budget capacity.

Council Member DeWayne Johnson, sponsor of the request, said the appropriation would help cover production costs the city will incur as host and would allow neighborhood groups to attend without fees. Johnson told the committee the conference is expected to bring an estimated $1.8 million in economic impact to Jacksonville and emphasized local community access: “That way, all community organizations could go,” he said.

Administrators and budget staff told the committee the funding source was unresolved. Angela Moyer of the Budget Office said a related bill to move collective‑bargaining contingency funds into salary and benefit accounts (bill 20‑25‑2‑80) would affect the general‑fund salary lines; she said she could not approve a transfer from salaries and benefits until that contingency appropriation is settled. Council Auditor Kim Taylor said the department could absorb the cost and later seek a transfer via MBRC if necessary and noted there were projected savings elsewhere (debt savings of about $9.8 million were discussed as one potential source). Director Waters said the conference team could “try to make do” if the committee removed the emergency clause and took up the bill in the regular cycle.

Committee action: After extended questioning about whether salary and benefit dollars or contingency funds could be used, the committee removed the emergency clause and deferred the bill for further review. Committee members asked staff to report back on whether neighborhood department budget savings or the collective bargaining contingency could supply the $100,000 without creating overtime or service shortfalls.

Why it matters: Supporters argued the conference would bring delegates and economic activity and expand access for registered neighborhood groups; critics and several committee members pressed for clarity on the source of the $100,000 and whether using salary and benefit lines or contingency funds would create shortfalls elsewhere.

Next steps: Staff agreed to follow up between committee and the council meeting to clarify available TIF/contingency or departmental savings; the item will return to committee on the regular cycle if sponsors still wish to pursue it.