Mayor Peyton Vetoes City Council Tax Vote

Mayor's Letter to Council (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Mayor John Peyton has fired back in the battle to balance the city budget.

The Mayor vetoed City Council's amendment to keep the millage rate at 8.45.

Mayor Peyton wanted to raise the rate to 9.5 as part of his Fix it Now plan to help cover $50 million shortfall.

But City Council voted Tuesday night to keep the rate the same for the next fiscal year.

Mayor Peyton called City Council's action "irresponsible."

"This is equivalent of a mechanic telling how much it's going to cost to fix your car before even lifting the hood," said Peyton in a news conference Wednesday morning.

The veto reaffirms the rollback rating for the upcoming year, which is 9.27 mils.

Council President Richard Clark says he respects the mayor's opinion but disagrees.

"I'm excited about the prospect of truly being able to look at the budget with a new set of eyes, to make a smaller, more responsive government," said Clark on the doorsteps of City Hall.

City Council could override the Mayor's veto with 13 votes, but Clark believes it will be difficult to bring everyone together for a meeting before August 4, the deadline for the property appraiser to hand out tax notices to property owners.

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