Here is an interview with Michael Blaylock, Executive Director of JTA that appeared in the Dec. 23 edition of Financial News and Daily Record. Mr. Blaylock spoke to the committee on December 9.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=51486#

JTA Financials not available on-line.
JAA Financials: http://www.jaa.aero/AboutUs/Financials.aspx.
JPA Financials: http://www.jaxport.com/about/financials.cfm
JEA Financials: http://www.jea.com/about/pub/downloads/AnnualDisclosureReport2007.pdf

Forbes Magazine article about Jacksonville becoming a foreclosure capital:

http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/20/foreclosure-cities-ten-forbeslife-cx_mw_1020realestate.html

Budget Process & Calendar

The Budget Process & Calendar presented by Bob Johnson is posted at http://www.jcci.org/ReportsStudies/FinancingJacksonvillesFutureJCCIStudy.aspx
along with the revised meeting summary from October 21, which includes all the comments and questions submitted by the Study Committee on that date. Posted by Kathleen McKenzie

Police and Fire Pension Video

We've had a couple of requests for a link to the Police and Fire Pension Fund video referenced in the comments at the last meeting. Here it is:

October, 2008 - Eric Smith, Host of "People and Politics", Interview with John Keane Discussing Current Pension Issues

It's found on the Police and Fire Pension website maintained by the City of Jacksonville, which has other information about the structure and administration, annual reports, and other links this group might be interested in.

Keep those ideas for links coming!

1977 and 1992 Studies

You can access both the 1977 and 1992 studies here:

JCCI Study 1977: Local Government Finance

JCCI Study 1992: Long-Term Financial Health of the City of Jacksonville

What other links do you suggest we add?

Comments from the first meeting: 21 October 2008

At the first meeting of the study, participants were asked to fill out index cards identifying up to three issues they hoped the study would cover. Here's what you said:

• Erosion of consolidated concept of government vis-a-vis Authorities; are Authorities too self-serving?
• Funding mechanisms for city, police & fire pensions
• Privatization or sale of airports to generate tax dollars for the city
• The unment needs of our city that could be funded but aren't being funded at present
• The fairness of taxes (property, seals, other) vs. fees
• A comparison of Jacksonville's expenses and revenues to other similar cities
• What the desired role of government is in Jacksonville. The role of government vs. private sector needs clarified
• What services other cities provide and what responsibilities they take on, and how they fund them
• We need to discuss the lack of transparency and accountability in Jacksonville and how to address this
• We need a timeline to understand pensions plans and unfunded liabilities
• Fair allocation of JEA revenues to the city
• Non-profits and charitable support by the city
• Address issue of establishing funding for certain activities and then withdrawing that funding
• Look at income generation currently not part of the city's budget
• Be a proponent for the State to collect sales tax on internet sales
• What core services should a City pay for?
• Should JEA be sold?
• Should the pension plans be modified?
• What are the constraints on reforming the pension funds in terms of caps and funding of liabilities -- I am thinking ahead to implementation
• A public understanding of the complete City Budget related to our "qulaity of life" and potential for the future
• Everyone lives here based on "Quality of Life" -- therefore what is the leadership's responsibility to maintain and enhance that vision?
• Understanding of what our potential vision has on the proposed City Budget (millage rate)
• Exploring alternative revenue streams
• Pension plans
• Sustainable city funding going forward
• City employee pay structure: how is it determined, why is there such a gap between the very high salaries of some vs. the low salaries of others, how does the employee pay structure in the City of Jacksonville compare to other similar-sized cities at all levels, gap, the higher salaries
• What review process is there for an Annual Review of Budget v. Actual
• What process is there for determining the financial impact of State Amendments
• Impact of Tax Exemptions
• I want to know the critical point, the politics of Duval's finances, to wit: WHO gets what __ when __ and how.
• Impact of JEA on the budget
• Pensions
• I would be very interested to hear a presentation from one of the "rating agencies" on municipal debt rating processes for government and some specific discussion of Jacksonville
• Is there a role for more private sector involvement in L/T capital investment projects
• What "incentives" exist -- or should exist -- for the management/stadd of the local government in operating their budgets/businesses
• What ways could we provide outside the city government all services except core services
• Why not sell JEA -- get more of a tax base
• Why not stop the pension fund and go to self-directed 401K plans for new hires
• The whole discussion of how much revenue we need to meet necessary and desirable expenditures is predicated on how much we want from our city government. How do we decide what we want and how much we're willing to spend? Is it all boiled down to the City Council budget deliberation each year?
• Understanding of city pension plans
• City's contribution to State government
• Infrastructure (septic tank replacement)
• Principles for revenue balancing
• Requirements of a growing expanding community -- core services and expanded services
• Future of authorities -- JEA, etc.
• Examine the city's commitment to environmental monitoring, environmental sustainability, and climate change initiatives
• What are the city's contingency plans for the Jaguars? Future new stadium or stadium upgrades? Revenue loss if Jaguars leave?
• Examine city's support of the arts including symphony, Cummer, etc.
• Compare operating ratio's of city today and past to other cities
• The powerful never compromise when applying to the City because the City does not observe ordinances and statutes and parlimentary process when citizen says they not onserve or met requirements
• The problem of the City Attorney's client is the individual council person who's committee is over that area and the instructions to attorney is private
• Every city, county, state in the country has individual charter of accounts for property type
• Impact fees have a formula by ordinance and may not take all factors into consideration
• City has obligation to fund non-profits as on record they are our health and human services providers for Jacksonville

So what did I miss? What other comments do you have about the things you hope this study covers?