JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has launched an advertising campaign asking voters to contact their city council representative to urge support of Curry's pension reform plan.
The commercials, paid for by the "Build Something that Lasts" political action committee, began to appear on television and on social media this week.At last check, the PAC had $300,000 in its account.
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Jacksonville City Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday as a committee of the whole to consider the pension legislation. A second meeting is scheduled for Monday.
On April 6, Curry presented City Council with 35 pages of details on what the plan will cost and how the city will fund the 20 percent raises for police and firefighters over the next three years, 25 percent 401(c)3 match for new employees and other promises made by the Curry during contract negotiations the unions.
"The reform package you are reviewing ends an outdated, unsustainable, legacy pension system. (They) are bankrupting, crippling cities all across the United States," Curry told the council.
Curry said that if the plan goes as expected, the pension deficit would be completely paid off around 2049-2051. But his presentation acknowledged that there are costs associated with the new pension plan, including $37 million to fund raises next year, $77 million the following year and $120 million in 2020.
His staff presented data showing that the new plan would save the city $141 million next year -- a net savings of $82 million. The city's estimated savings would be $83 million in 2018 and $74 in 2020.