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Rules committee defers vote on proposed JEA contribution after budget timing dispute
Summary
The rules committee postponed action on a bill that would formalize a multi-year contribution from JEA to the city after conflicting testimony about whether the administration could include the $40 million in the upcoming printed budget.
The Jacksonville City Council rules committee on June 16 deferred action on a bill tied to JEA's five-year contribution plan after committee members requested more clarity about whether the administration could legally include a proposed $40 million in its upcoming printed budget.
The committee's auditor, Philip Peterson, told members the $40 million contribution in the legislation is similar to a previously budgeted one-time contribution of $15 million and that, in his view, deferring one cycle would not create a problem so long as the council ultimately approves the item this year. Mike Weinstein of the mayor's office said the administration could not include the $40 million in the printed budget if the council had not approved the agreement before the administration produced its balanced budget documents.
The discrepancy prompted extended discussion among committee members and outside witnesses from JEA. Kurt Wilson, representing JEA, said the utility's board had already approved a resolution authorizing the agreement and that a short deferral would not affect JEA's internal financial plans. Still, several members said they wanted more briefings and one-on-one conversations with the administration and JEA before acting.
Committee members and staff agreed to schedule additional briefings for council members and asked the administration and JEA to meet with interested members before the item returns to committee. The chair said the item would be deferred; the council president (elect) was given the option to discharge the item for a full-council vote if other committees do not also defer.
Why this matters: The $40 million contribution would affect the city's revenue assumptions for the coming fiscal year and therefore could influence the balanced budget the mayor's office must print in early July. The committee sought to avoid a situation in which the administration printed a budget that included revenue the council had not yet authorized.
What happened next: The committee deferred the bill and directed staff to arrange meetings between the administration, JEA and council members to resolve the timing and language concerns before the next rules or finance committee meetings.
Speakers quoted or referenced in committee testimony were: Philip Peterson, council auditor's office; Mike Weinstein, mayor's office; Kurt Wilson, Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA); Councilman Boylan; Councilman Carlucci (bill sponsor). The committee did not take a final vote on the bill at this meeting.
