The Duval County Rules Committee advanced a $15 million finance substitute that combines higher-education and workforce initiatives, but not before members amended the package to address legal and programmatic concerns.

Office of General Counsel staff told the committee that bond counsel raised an initial concern regarding whether the Edward Waters University (EWU) appropriation met a clear public purpose. Mary Stifopoulos of OGC said the issue required further legal analysis. In response, Council Member Terrence Freeman proposed an amendment to move $2,000,000 earmarked for EWU "below the line" pending that review and to reallocate $675,000 toward an apprenticeship contingency for registered trades programs. The Freeman amendment passed on a voice vote.

Council discussed available funding sources during extended debate. Members explained that $3,000,000 of the package would come from TDC reserves (bed-tax funds earmarked for limited tourism-related uses) while the remainder would draw on other local sources; TDC staff and UNF representatives flagged time-sensitive construction and field upgrades related to tourism and upcoming NCAA event timelines. TDC Executive Director Carol Brock and UNF’s athletic director described the potential tourism and hotel-night impacts if fields and stadium work proceed on an expedited schedule.

Apprenticeship leaders in the room — represented by Kirk Barris of the Jacksonville General Apprenticeship Association — pressed for inclusion of several registered apprenticeship programs. Committee members agreed to place an apprenticeship contingency below the line and to develop separate term sheets so those dollars could be assigned by future legislation once details were finalized.

After debate and several clarifications from administration staff and OGC, the committee approved the finance substitute as amended and then rolled it into a rule substitute; the committee recorded a 7-0 ballot vote to advance the measure to full council.

Members asked for written legal clearance from OGC about EWU’s public-purpose determination once bond counsel completes its analysis. Staff also committed to firming up term-sheet details for apprenticeship spending and to coordinate with TDC on timing so that tourism-related investments are not undermined by delayed votes.

The package as advanced includes 1) a $15,000,000 total appropriation in the substitute, 2) $2,000,000 for EWU moved below the line pending legal review, 3) $675,000 set aside for apprenticeship/workforce initiatives to be allocated via follow-up term sheets, and 4) $3,000,000 identified from TDC reserves for tourism-related facilities.