JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The stadium deal for $1.4 billion comes with a lot of questions.
Wednesday night, Mayor Donna Deegan and the Jaguars fielded those questions about their negotiated stadium deal.
Neighbors asked questions about the finances and community benefits in the deal, but the reception was mostly positive.
“They [the Jaguars] met us halfway on everything I think that is outstanding," Deegan said.
The deal will cost the city $775 million and the Jaguars $625 million.
"Should it be a referendum?” neighbor, George Carroll, asked Deegan.
Carroll wants taxpayers to be able to vote on the deal.
Mayor Deegan said they already did when they voted for her as mayor.
“If we start putting every leadership decision to referendum, we’re not going to get a whole lot done in this city," Deegan said.
Instead, the Jacksonville City Council will have the final vote.
“The devils in the details, I'd love to see the term sheets themselves,” district councilmember, Michael Boylan, said he has his own questions. He said he's not opposed to a ballot referendum involving the stadium.
“Any chance we get to get the vote and the voter involved in the process; I think it makes perfect sense. But it requires them to get educated on the process,” Boylan said.
It’s why so many neighbors from around Jacksonville showed up.
The deal includes $150 million in city money to community development in downtown areas, including the Eastside.
“Just by me being here in this room today at Mandarin High School, it's enough to let me know that this gap will be bridged. And I want to thank our mayor Donna Deegan, for the hard work and effort," Tellissa Robinson, owner of Eastcoast Striping and Painting on Jacksonville's Eastside, said.