This is for informational purposes only.

City Council to Consider

Creation of Special Library Taxing District

The Duval Legislative Delegation has delayed the process of asking the State Legislature to place the question of creating a Special Duval County Library Taxing District.  The State Legislature is the only body that can place the question on the November Duval County General Election ballot.  The legislative leaders want an indication from the Council that the Council believes the taxpayers of Duval County support the creation of this taxing district.

As proposed, the Taxing District would be able to levy as much as 1 mill of property tax - $1 for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value - to fund the city's library system.

Members of Save Our Public Libraries Inc., which supports the plan, recently delivered enough petitions to get a straw vote on the ballot in August. However, the group is also pushing the legislative delegation to have the issue placed on the November ballot.  Only a vote on the General Election Ballot would actually create the taxing district.

City Councilman John Crescimbeni (D) said he has no problem with the Legislative Delegation wanting the Council to weigh in on the idea of creating a taxing district.   Crescimbeni said. "We'll get the resolution introduced and get it moved on an expedited basis."

Three City Council Committees will consider the proposal this week and the entire council is scheduled to vote on the issue Tuesday, February 14th.

Jacksonville City Council allotted $33.6 million to its library system this year, which is roughly three-quarters of a mill. Under the library taxing district plan, the millage rate would be decided by a board consisting of the mayor, a School Board member and three City Council members.

I urge all citizens to attend the Council Committee meetings if possible and be in communication with your City Council Representative concerning this measure.

Questions:

R. Don Redman - Vice Chair
Raymond E. Holt
Warren A. Jones
E. Denise Lee
Jim Love
Clay E. Yarborough