JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- City leaders want to spend $150,000 to inventory all the property the city owns.
Vacant properties all across the city are sitting empty, but still costing you money.
"We need to see what the best use will be," said Councilman Clay Yarborough.
Yarborough thinks the mayor's new plan to evaluate all properties is a good idea. "We don't want vacant buildings or storefronts anywhere in the city, especially downtown. It's the central hub of the city," said Yarborough.
What he's not sure about is the cost to do it. Action News found out it'll cost you $150,000. "I'd like to look at why it costs that amount. It seems too high," said Yarborough.
So we took that question right to the mayor's office. We asked why look for an outside firm when they have people on staff. "Obviously this is a broad, wide-ranging review and it's going to give us the best advice possible to do this," said the mayor's spokesman David DeCamp.
DeCamp says the firm or person hired to evaluate the buildings will have a big job. But even spending $150,000 had some council members wondering if that money could be spent elsewhere.
"I think it's the most effective way to inventory and how to utilize important assets for taxpayers," said DeCamp.
City council still has to vote on this proposal which could take up to six weeks. The mayor's office says the money will come from the Public Works department.
