I'm agin it.
If we're going to raise the sales tax a la The Better Jacksonville Plan v. 2.0, wouldn't it be better to again use it for funding infrastructure improvements so at least the city has something concrete to show for in a few years a la the BJP funded main library, ballpark, arena, courthouse, etc.?
Who really cares about the half cent sales tax for capital improvements? According to Mousa its not like they're going to invest any of those funds downtown until the pension issue is fixed anyway.
Maybe I'm a wild eyed optimist but why can't we do both at the same time? A small property tax increase to help fund the police/fire pension liability and a BJP2 half cent sales tax increase to fund infrastructure improvements--complete streets, park improvements, saving the Laura Street trio, finally finishing the Skyway, a streetcar starter line, fixing potholes, pulling Liberty Street out of the river, etc. Actual quality of life improvements for Jax residents might make the less glamorous pension fix a bit more palatable (a spoonful of sugar and all that).
And that's the real issue I have with Mayor Curry's plan--any progress for improving the city in general and downtown in particular is being held hostage in order to fund the pension liability because the word "tax" is now considered a filthy word and the phrase "I'ma raise taxes" is tantamount to political suicide and an abominable assault on the very gates of heaven itself.
But elections have consequences so here we are. Ultimately, we get the city we pay for.
