Jacksonville Bold for 3.25.26: Tax tiff

House Speaker-designate Sam Garrison is on record as being against what could be part of a proposal by Gov. Ron DeSantis to pay the way for the state’s poorest counties in the event voters decide to eliminate property taxes in November.

Garrison also suggested that even Republicans who recognize the burden of millage may disagree on how to alleviate it.

On Thursday, he told members of the Jacksonville Bar Association that he is “very concerned that whatever we do be done uniformly.”

“I don’t want to get in the business, especially on a constitutional referendum, of having different rules for different counties,” he added.

Garrison noted that Clay County, the northern part of which is a functional suburb of Jacksonville, is in a “doughnut hole” between urban areas like Duval and 32 of Florida’s 67 counties designated as fiscally constrained.

Typically lower in population and property value, they include Baker, Bradford, Calhoun, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Okeechobee, Putnam, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla and Washington counties.

DeSantis has called the amount of money needed to make up for uncollected property tax revenue “budget dust.”

Garrison also discussed the unique challenges of leading a “top-down” legislative branch made up of 120 people with “no shortage of egos,” working to “manage the personalities and the basic needs of 119 of your closest friends who you can’t hire or fire. And all of whom, you know, think they should have your job.”

“You’re in charge of everything, from what bills are heard to what coffee is served,” he noted, joking that the job is a “piece of cake.”

And given that voters pick the members, there’s a lot of variance in the Legislature.

“If I got to choose who the members would be, there’s probably a very different membership, right? But they represent their districts. And so, there are things you can do within any sort of political organization that we have a big structure like that to try to reward positive behavior, and not reward, you know, behavior that’s less positive. It’s called politics,” Garrison said.

Garrison also acknowledges that the last couple of Sessions in Tallahassee, where Speaker Daniel Perez has jousted with Senate President Ben Albritton, “haven’t actually been the smoothest couple of years,” given the “real personality conflicts” that have surfaced between the two leaders.

He sees an opportunity to work with the new Governor and believes the first two years of an incoming administration offer the chance to tackle “big issues.”

Drone deliveryman

A 36-year-old man was sentenced to 81 years in prison for being convicted of using drones to drop and deliver contraband to inmates in Florida detention facilities.

Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday that Mario Brian Crawford was ordered to spend the next eight decades behind bars in a Florida prison for delivering illegal goods to prisoners. He was sentenced in the 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida in Escambia County.

Officials say Crawford used drones to drop contraband such as drugs, cellphones, SIM data cards, charging cords, tobacco and razors to inmates serving time in correctional facilities. Those included the Liberty Correctional Institute and the Okaloosa Correctional Institute. He was arrested at his home by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in March 2023.

“Our investigation is revealing he probably dropped drugs into dozens of other institutions,” Uthmeier said during a news conference Monday in Milton.

Crawford’s been convicted of introduction or possession of contraband at a state facility, conspiracy to introduce or possess contraband at a state facility, trafficking in more than 10 grams of the stimulant drug Cathinone, illegal use of a drone and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.

Firestarter

The Jacksonville Association of Fire  Fighters (JAFF) is getting behind a Democrat looking to flip Florida’s 4th Congressional District.

“Jacksonville’s firefighters know what it means to answer the call, and they also know what it means to fight for what’s right,” said JAFF President Kelly Dobson.

“Our members want leaders who will stand with firefighters and working families, protect the benefits we have earned, and push back when Washington threatens the retirement security our people counted on. Michael Kirwan understands that fight, and our members know he’ll stand with us.”

Kirwan said he values the endorsement from one of Jacksonville’s most high-profile and politically potent public sector labor unions.

“I’m proud to have the support of the Jacksonville firefighters,” Kirwan said. “These are the people who show up for our community on its hardest days, and they deserve leaders who will show up for them. That means protecting retirement security, defending the benefits they’ve earned, supporting public safety, and making sure the people who risk their lives for us are never treated like an afterthought in Washington.”

The JAFF endorsement continues momentum for Kirwan, a Jacksonville native and longtime securities lawyer who has served as Chair of the Jacksonville Ethics Commission and President of Scenic Jacksonville. Kirwan is seeking to unseat second-term incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean.

The firefighters’ support could be meaningful, given Republicans’ registration advantage. The district, which includes Nassau County, Clay County and some of Duval County, is 41% Republican and 34% Democrat.

Tweet, tweet 

Too late?

Jacksonville’s public utility, JEA, is looking within for answers about whether employees are happy and whether business is being done correctly, saying the effort is independent of an ongoing City Council probe.

The push is framed as “proactive and deliberate steps to ensure a safe, respectful, and productive work environment for all employees.” But City Council members see them as too little, too late, and say investigations into the utility will continue.

The utility has commissioned its outside employment law firm, Jackson Lewis, for an “independent, third-party review” of “recent allegations regarding workplace culture.” Lawyer Cherie Silberman of Tampa will conduct the review, which will begin next month.

“As part of her work, Silberman will evaluate JEA’s employment policies, conduct interviews with leadership and employees, and take any additional steps necessary to provide a thorough and objective assessment,” the utility says.

Management will not steer the process.

Energage will also conduct an employee engagement survey next month.

The moves come after the City Council held its first meeting of the JEA Special Investigative Committee amid questions about the utility’s activities, including unpaid capacity fees and concerns about its culture that led City Council President Kevin Carrico to say he’d heard from employees regarding alleged “racism” in the utility.

Carrico is skeptical of the timing and vows that the Special Investigative Committee will proceed.

“JEA’s sudden decision to launch its own ‘independent’ review comes far too late — and only after months of unanswered questions, mounting concerns about workplace culture, missing funds, and skyrocketing utility costs for ratepayers. Quite frankly, this feels like a Johnny-come-lately response prompted not by accountability, but by the City Council asking tough questions,” he told Florida Politics on Wednesday.

Rory Diamond, a prominent voice in favor of changes at the utility, echoes Carrico’s consternation.

“It would have been great if their Board Chair had initiated such a review before he ignored all the allegations and bullied a vote of confidence. Day late and a dollar short,” the Republican from the Beaches said.

Civic-minded schools

Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland is singling out some schools for standing out in terms of citizenship.

“During the months of January, February, and March, our office visited 28 schools who responded to our invitation to pre-register and register students to vote. In Florida, one can pre-register to vote if they are at least 16 years old and meet all other eligibility requirements. The pre-registration will become an active registration when the applicant turns 18,” Holland’s office notes.

More than 3,200 students registered during the drive. Here are the winners.

Duval County Public Schools:

Large School – First Coast High School

Medium School – Terry Parker High School

Small School — Bridge to Success Academy

Private Schools:

Large School — Bishop Kenny High School

Medium School — The Bolles School

Small School — Pace Center for Girls Jacksonville

College/University:

Edward Waters University

Dear DeerCreek

The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) has acquired a sizable parcel of property in St. Johns County that will be designated as a conservation area.

Ring Power, a Cat heavy equipment dealer in Florida, donated more than 1,700 acres to the NFLT through a conservation easement. The property is in western St. Johns County near the Shands Bridge that crosses the St. Johns River into Clay County.

The donation totals 1,732 acres and encompasses an area known as DeerCreek Plantation. It’s adjacent to some areas of another preserved stretch of land, the Jack Wright Island Conservation Area. The DeerCreek tract of land more than triples the mass of property at the Wright preserve.

The Ring Power owners, Randy and Paula Ringhaver and David and Bree Alban, facilitated the donation. The DeerCreek property lies within the NFLT springs, aquifer recharge and water quality improvement preservation priority area. It’s also within the St. Johns River Blueway Florida Forever area.

“This generous donation is a major win for conservation in St. Johns County, which just continues to grow,” said Allison DeFoor, President and CEO of NFLT. “We are grateful to the Ringhaver family for recognizing the importance of saving this natural space because it is now or never.”

The DeerCreek tract was donated as preservation property because St. Johns County is one of Florida’s fastest-growing counties. Multiple housing developments have been erected in that area of St. Johns County in the past two decades.

Municipal fleet management

St. Johns County is employing a digital application to help manage hundreds of government vehicles serving the Northeast Florida municipality.

The “Fleet Manager” scheduling application enables county staff to schedule vehicle maintenance assignments and repairs more easily. The platform allows county workers to choose their vehicle and available service times, document issues and problems, and include notes and photos.

“This application streamlines how we manage fleet maintenance and improves communication between departments,” said Rocky S. Agbunag, Information Systems Officer for St. Johns County Public Works. “By integrating scheduling, notifications, and data tracking into one system, we are enhancing efficiency and helping our teams stay focused on serving residents.”

The Public Works Information Systems Division produces the Fleet Manager platform to help connect fleet operations with different county divisions that rely on heavy equipment for duties, according to a county news release. Some of the St. Johns County divisions using the platform include the Utilities Department, Traffic Operations, and the Road and Bridge Division, as well as others that incorporate data integration and mapping technology.

Health fair

HCLG Revival Center Church will host its Annual Community Health Fair on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1700 Francis Ave. in Atlantic Beach.

The free event, sponsored by Bishop Percy J. Golden and the church, aims to raise public health awareness and connect residents with essential services.

Attendees will have access to free health screenings, including HIV testing, vision exams, women’s health services, blood pressure and glucose checks.

The fair will also offer nutritional education, health insurance information, hands-only CPR training and literacy resources.

Organizers say the event is designed to help community members learn how to live and healthy, safe life, with vendors and a KidzZone hosted by Sarge Hall.

Sultry St. Augustine

Southern Living magazine came out with its list of the best small towns in the South, and Florida snagged five spots on that ledger with St. Augustine topping the rankings.

The magazine dedicated to all things Southern in the United States published its findings from a survey of readers on the best towns outside of metropolitan areas, and Florida had more towns on that list than any other state. Georgia was the closest state to the Sunshine State, with three small towns from the Peach State making the ranking.

St. Augustine was ranked first in the best small towns in the South. Southern Living writers chalked that up to the bounty of historic and scenic attractions in the Nation’s Oldest City.

Another First Coast favorite, Fernandina Beach, finished 20th on the small-town list.

Jaguars in the trade market?

For a team that has been rather measured in its offseason moves, the Jacksonville Jaguars are still a team mentioned in trade rumors.

Specifically, supposed trades involving wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

Thomas starred as a rookie in 2024, catching 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. Those numbers represent the seventh most catches and fifth most receiving yards in Jaguars history. Only Allen Robinson’s 14 touchdowns in 2015 are more than Thomas’s rookie season total.

But last season, Thomas was hit by the sophomore slump. He missed three games with injuries, caught only 48 passes for 707 yards, and scored only two touchdowns. For most of the season, he looked like a different player. He shied away from contact, short-armed catches, and dropped balls.

Since the start of free agency, various online reports have had the Jaguars in talks with the New York Jets, New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns about a potential trade. General manager James Gladstone called any reports of advanced trade talks “fraudulent.”

So why all the speculation? In some measure, it’s based on the success of Jaguars’ receivers Jakobi Meyers, who was acquired in a trade last season and earned a new contract with the team by his play, and Parker Washington, who emerged as a go-to receiver during the 2025 season. With Travis Hunter also on the roster and available to be a contributor in the passing game, observers around the league might look at Jacksonville’s situation and think they have too many accomplished receivers and not enough passes to keep them happy.

But the reality is that Thomas is entering a pivotal season in his career. If he can put the poor play of last season behind him and play more as he did as a rookie, the Jaguars’ offense will reap the benefits. And because there are questions about Thomas, the team would not likely get the kind of value in a trade that would make it worth giving up on a young talent. Thomas won’t turn 24 until October. He is still a young player with a lot of upside potential.

The other factor is that the Jaguars don’t have a gaping need at any specific position. The roster build and a few key additions have enabled Gladstone to be surgical in adding players between now and the start of training camp.

And with the Jaguars holding 11 picks in next month’s draft, they can maneuver to select players to fill future needs, not just the immediate needs of the roster.

This may not be an exciting offseason for Jaguars fans, but it should provide confidence that the team could make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time this century.