Jacksonville City Council Rejects Proposed Pay Raise

Jacksonville City Hall during a city council meeting

News Summary

In a notable decision, seven members of the Jacksonville City Council have voted against a proposed salary increase for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This follows an ordinance requiring annual opt-in or out of pay adjustments since 2021. Currently, council members earn $61,890, with some members maintaining lower salaries due to their choice to decline raises. This trend highlights a commitment to fiscal responsibility, ensuring transparency in salary decisions while preparing for the upcoming budget cycle.

Jacksonville – In a significant budgetary decision, seven out of the 19 members of the Jacksonville City Council have opted to reject a proposed pay raise for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This decision follows an ordinance established in 2021 that requires council members to annually opt in or out of salary adjustments. The council’s current salary stands at $61,890, and the decision regarding pay raises comes as the city prepares for its upcoming budget cycle.

The council members who have chosen to decline a pay increase include Mike Gay, Joe Carlucci, Rory Diamond, Ron Salem, Terrance Freeman, Matt Carlucci, and Chris Miller. Notably, both Rory Diamond and Matt Carlucci have turned down pay raises since taking their positions on the council. As a result of their decision, Diamond’s salary will remain at $49,635, while Carlucci’s will stay at $49,974.

On the other hand, council members accepting salary adjustments include Ken Amaro, Will Lahnen, Kevin Carrico, Michael Boylan, Jimmy Peluso, Reggie Gaffney Jr., Tyrona Clark-Murray, Ju’Coby Pittman, Raul Arias, Randy White, Rahman Johnson, and Nick Howland. The specific adjustments to their salaries are pending the release of data from the state Legislature’s Office of Economic Demographic Research, which determines the pay based on population metrics and other factors.

Interestingly, in 2021, the trend of declining pay raises was evident with 11 out of 19 council members opting against a pay increase. The ordinance was designed to enhance transparency within the council regarding their salary decisions, allowing the public to track which members accept or decline raises. Forms indicating council members’ decisions on salary raises are made available online for public viewing.

The City Council operates on a part-time basis, which allows members the flexibility to reject pay increases without financial repercussions. The original salary setup, as outlined in the ordinance, allows City Council members to earn half of what is permitted for county commissioners in Duval County. Currently, the salary for a Duval County commissioner is $123,781, meaning City Council members earn a salary of $61,890.

The decision from the council members comes at a time when population size calculations are expected to lead to salary adjustments in the future. The city continues under the guideline that salary figures linked to demographic data will potentially rise, influencing future budget considerations and council member salaries.

This decision underscores a commitment to fiscal responsibility among some members of the Jacksonville City Council as they navigate the complexities of city budgeting and their roles as elected officials. The ability for council members to make their salary decisions public has also led to increased discussions about compensation and accountability within local government.