Council president says proposed tax cuts return money ‘to the citizens,’ funds ‘essential services’

The bell rang on Monday on the latest round in the fight over how Jacksonville city leaders should spend taxpayers’ money. City Council President Kevin Carrico, who has been publicly sparring with Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, announced that the budget the Finance Committee is sending to city council cuts more than $13 million from what Deegan proposed. “We shouldn’t be discussing any increases. We shouldn’t be discussing keeping it flat. We should be discussing giving those dollars back,” Carrico said. “We need to continue to push and say, enough is enough. We want the relief. We want to give the money back to the citizens.” Deegan addressed the media following Carrico’s announcement and called the ongoing tug-of-war a “political move.”