This budget proposal builds on the city’s recent successes, and it makes generational investments in the key priorities of areas of public safety, infrastructure, housing, homelessness, health, economic development, and key quality of life initiatives that have strong bipartisan support.
 
“Our proposed 2025-2026 budget is not just balanced – it is urgent,” said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. “It is not just disciplined – it is bold. It reflects the values we share: smarter spending, greater safety, better health, and more opportunity. And it builds on the immense progress we’ve made together.”
 
The budget addresses comes on the heels of Jacksonville receiving another top tier AA+ bond rating from Fitch.
 
BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
 
INFRASTRUCTURE

• $51 million for roadway surfacing, sidewalk repair and new construction, and intersection improvements (up 64%)
• $2.6 million for improvements to city-owned buildings
• $1 million for litter and blight reduction efforts
• $500,000 for new trash and recycling bins
• $9.2 million for septic tank removal
• $20.4 million for drainage projects
• $1.25 million for resilience infrastructure improvements
• $250,000 to plan for long-term growth and zoning requirements

 
AFFORDABLE HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS

• More than $12 million in affordable housing and homelessness
  • Local capital stack fund, downpayment assistance, utility

connection fee support, emergency rental and eviction diversion

• Shelter bed expansion, outreach team, transitional housing, mental health and chronic homeless offenders, homelessness

prevention vouchers, Urban Rest Stop

• $500,000 for housing services from Jacksonville Area Legal Aid

 
PUBLIC SAFETY

• $100.1 million increases in JSO and JFRD salary and pension

benefits to recruit and retain first responders

• $18.1 million in new fire station construction, $3.4 million for JFRD equipment, $7.5 million for cardiac monitors, 22 positions for new Fire Station #66
• $1.6 million for JSO equipment, 7 support positions
• $2 million for Jacksonville Journey Forward
• $3.5 million for firefighter training building
• $50,000 for cooling and warming center operations

 
HEALTH

• $7.1 million for health programs
  • Healthlink Jax telehealth, eldercare food insecurity, JaxCare Connect safety net care, pediatric mental health and 988 call center, dental access, infant mortality, congenital syphilis screening
• $56 million for UF Health care for vulnerable citizens
• $500,000 for ER social workers
• $300,000 for food system study

 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• $100,000 for Jax Hub, a fintech industry incubator
• $1 million for Jacksonville Urban League community and workforce center
• $2.5 million for city’s final share of raising powerlines near JAXPORT
• $46.8 million in previous Downtown Investment Authority commitments
• $18.1 million in previous Office of Economic Development commitments

 
PARKS & RECREATION

• $87.5 million for downtown riverfront parks construction
• $26 million for park improvements
• $500,000 for pool maintenance and $1.9 million for lifeguards
• $750,000 for maintenance of community/senior centers and playgrounds

 
YOUTH, LITERACY, & HIGHER EDUCATION

• $1.4 million in library renovations
• $500,000 for additional library materials
• $49.8 million in Kids Hope Alliance program funding
• $250,000 for program supporting military children
• $8.7 million for Edward Waters University
• $2 million for a sports facility on the Jacksonville University Campus

 
ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

• $7 million for Cultural Council grants
• $500,000 for the Jacksonville Symphony

 
COMMUNITY OUTREACH

• $6.5 million in Community Benefits Agreement funding (Eastside: $4 million, Countywide: $2.5 million)
• $237,500 for State of Jax data initiative
• $2 million for Veterans Memorial Wall shade structure
• $509,000 for the Equestrian Center
• $250,000 for United Way 211

 
CITY COUNCIL INITIATIVES

• $9.4 million for Strategic Plan programming
• $14 million in Community Benefits Agreement funding for council district projects (14 districts)

 
To view the full budget, read or watch Mayor Deegan’s budget address, and explore highlights, visit: jacksonville.gov/budget