AUGUST 7 TO AUGUST 13, 2025 | JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
BUSINESS & LEGAL NEWS IN BAKER, CLAY, DUVAL, NASSAU AND ST. JOHNS COUNTIES
THE LOOMING DEBATE OVER THE CITY BUDGET At least six Jacksonville Council members are entering budget hearings saying they want to cut spending and reduce the property tax rate.
INSIDE
THE MATHIS REPORT
New bagel restaurant concept coming to city PAGE 6
RIC ANDERSON MANAGING EDITOR
A
s the Jacksonville City Council prepares for budget hearings that begin Aug. 7, at least six Council members say they’ll support a reduction in the property tax rate. Council President Kevin Carrico, Vice President Nick Howland and members Raul Arias, Rory Diamond, Terrance Freeman and Ron Salem have announced they would look to trim the rate, formally called the millage rate, from its current level of 11.3169 mills. Mayor Donna Deegan proposed a $2 billion 2025-26 budget operating budget that would keep the millage rate flat for the upcoming budget year, which takes effect in October. She opposes a cut, and some Council members are urging their colleagues to be cautious in reducing the rate. At stake are the property taxes paid by SEE BUDGET, PAGE 8
CITY GOVERNMENT
Florida’s first classes in LaVilla won’t happen in fall
INSIDE Florida DOGE to probe city’s finances. Page 9
PAGE 4
WHAT A MILLAGE CUT WOULD MEAN FOR YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL
HOW JACKSONVILLE COMPARES WITH OTHER LARGE FLORIDA CITIES
The proposed Jacksonville millage rate is unchanged at 11.3169 mills. Under the Florida Save Our Homes amendment, the tax bill for homesteaded properties can only increase by the consumer price index or 3%, whichever is less. In 2025, the CPI was 2.9%. Even with a millage reduction, homeowners could pay more in property taxes because of rising home values. Here is the amount saved for home with an assessed value of $200,000 and a $50,000 homestead exemption.
Here are the total millage rates for other large Florida cities. The rates include city, county, schools and special taxing districts. Millage rate
City
20.5564
Miami St. Petersburg
19.5156
Millage rate cut
Millage rate
Monthly reduction
Yearly reduction
Tallahassee
19.2379
REDEVELOPMENT
1/8 mill
11.1919
$1.56
$18.75
Orlando
19.1028
1/4 mill
10.5669
$3.13
$37.50
Trio could have a new suitor
1/2 mill
10.8169
$6.20
$75.00
Tampa
19.0437
3/4 mill
9.5669
$9.38
$112.50
1 mill
10.3169
$12.50
$150.00
Jacksonville
17.8650 Source: City of Jacksonville
Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico says the would-be buyer is from outside of Jacksonville. PAGE 10 THE BASCH REPORT
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Railroad battle over tracks
THE C-SUITE
Florida Blue parent names a new CEO Brian Pieninck, the president and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, is named to succeed the retiring Pat Geraghty at GuideWell. PAGE 3
Jacksonville-based Florida East Coast Railway LLC filed a lawsuit last month to stop an expansion by Brightline, which operates a commuter rail service on FECR’s tracks in South Florida. PAGE 16
VOLUME 112, NO. 39 | TWO SECTIONS | PUBLISHED SINCE 1912