Jacksonville, FL — The months-long legal fight over funding school improvements in Jacksonville may finally be ending. The Duval County Public Schools has agreed to drop its lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville, if City Council votes to put a half-cent sales tax on the November ballot.
DCPS says revenue generated from the tax would fund safety and security infrastructure improvements, deferred maintenance, closing and combining schools where necessary, building two new schools in the southeast and southwestern parts of the county, and reducing portables.
“We need to take care of our kids. That’s our number one. That’s our future. It should be our number one priority, but politics get in the way, but I think we’re headed in the right direction”, parent Paula Mickler told Action News Jax on Monday.
City Council is expected to take a first step tonight, with a final vote on the sales tax question expected late in March.
LIVE at 10- #Jacksonville City Council expected to take up half-cent sales tax for school improvements https://t.co/m5649jEnLR @ActionNewsJax @TenikkaANjax @BachmanANjax @NewsGriff @jmojax08
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) February 25, 2020
#ANjaxBREAKING: @DuvalSchools approves settlement. https://t.co/zH7eSkccZs
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) February 24, 2020
Tonight on @ActionNewsJax at 10! https://t.co/w8DViLzoGg
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) February 25, 2020
NOW: @DuvalSchools in shade meeting with their lawyers. Expected to go an hour. Media was just asked to leave. This comes after city statement that if City Council votes to put sales tax referendum on Nov. ballot, DCPS will dismiss any pending litigation against city. pic.twitter.com/rHFclol9GK
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) February 24, 2020