JACKSONVILLE, Fla -- Budget cuts, shortfalls, miscalculations and layoffs. Balancing Jacksonville's 2013 budget has not been easy.
"It's frustrating to see a budget presented that probably had more errors in it and flaws in it and at the same time constantly having challenges saying they need more money," said Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland.
Holland has a solution -- close down his two elections offices and build a new $5 million office at 816 Union St. At their Gateway Mall location, rent is $52,000 a month. Their Monroe Street spot is city owned, so there's no rent there.
The proposed location is also city-owned and Holland says consolidating would save $100,000 in staffing and travel between the two locations.
Several council members are behind him. But the man at the top -- Mayor Alvin Brown -- has concerns.
"We're presenting an option that can save them hundreds of thousands of dollars and to say we really shouldn't look at this at this time really sends mixed messages," Holland said.
The resolution passed by city council, allows them to start a sustainability study of this space. But Mayor Brown says he'll neither sign it...or veto it. Action News reached out to the Mayor's office to talk about the decision. So far, our inquiries have gone unanswered.
Action News did obtain a statement saying in part, "I also have concerns about building a new government facility on property that might otherwise attract commercial owners." City Council President Bill Bishop agrees with the mayor on that front.
"Why do we need to build a building on what we hope one day becomes high rent property to put a warehouse?" questioned Bishop. "There's all sorts of warehouse space around the city that's inexpensive that's accessible that is one-story and convenient and all that sort of thing and my hope is the financial feasibility study starts to look at that as well."
Holland is standing by his suggestion. He believes consolidating will pay off long term.
