Sherry MagillJacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry announced yesterday that he is asking City council to pass emergency legislation to allocate funding from the federal Covid-19 relief funding during a special council meeting to be held Monday, May 27 at 1 pm.
Jacksonville’s general fund is receiving $159 million from the federal CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) recently enacted by Congress.
Mayor Curry proposes to use these tax-payer dollars to help local citizens pay rent, mortgage, and utility bills ($40 million in increments of $1000 per qualifying household); and support Covid testing ($34.5 million), city revenue losses ($46.5 million), and small businesses and job retention ($17 million).
He is also asking that $20 million “provide additional funding to entities that are managing or operating city-owned facilities.” The proposed legislation does not name these entities or facilities. It also does not describe how the Curry administration arrived at $20 million as the appropriate amount of subsidy.
The bill may be read here:
The public may participate in the Monday special meeting via zoom.
Editorial Staff