The Jacksonville Aviation Authority’s board voted unanimously to hire its own legal representation outside of the city’s Office of General Counsel. This move authorizes the airport authority to take legal action against the city.

Dispute Over Budget

The dispute centers around a $10 million budget amendment proposed by City Council President Nick Howland for a facility expansion of Florida State College of Jacksonville’s aviation mechanics program at Cecil Airport. The airport authority’s administration claims this is an illegal diversion of its funds, as advised by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Howland argues that the expansion would help address the shortage of aviation mechanics. However, the airport authority fears that if the city council gains more control over its budget, it could affect the authority’s bond rating and make infrastructure projects more expensive.

Mediation Efforts

The board decided to halt filing any lawsuit for 30 days to attempt to resolve the issue through mediation. Airport authority board Chair David Hodges Jr. hopes that mediation can provide clarity on who controls the authority’s money flow.

Mayor Donna Deegan expressed concern about the potential lawsuit, stating that she wants both sides to find a reasonable conclusion without litigation. She acknowledged the importance of following FAA regulations while seeking a resolution that benefits the city and the airport authority.

Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.