$8.4M for Edward Waters College? Controversy on Jax City Council

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- This summer, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry proposed a $131M capital improvement budget — a cornucopia of one-time spending designed to take advantage of budget relief created by pension reform, fueled by the confidence created by Jacksonville’s strong position with bond ratings agencies.

And on Wednesday, the Jacksonville City Council’s Finance Committee — along with visiting Council members — took their pencils and erasers to the budget proposal, one which also included ramped up recurring budgets for maintenance projects — especially sidewalk construction and sewerage system rehab.

Those items didn’t prove so controversial. What did prove controversial: a priority spend of Mayor Lenny Curry opposed by one Council member, who said it might cause him to vote against the budget entirely.

Councilman Danny Becton proposing moving $8.4M away from Edward Waters College capital improvements (a community field and a dorm) to water projects that have been delayed.

Curry’s political ally Nat Glover is President of EWC, and was instrumental in helping market the 2016 pension reform referendum to local African-American Democrats.

Becton’s motion was not seconded. Discussion was robust nonetheless.

CAO Sam Mousa said the administration is “extremely passionate” about Edward Waters and the New Town area.

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