Local

City considers increasing fines on illegal signs to raise money

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — There’s a new focus tonight in the city's effort to clean up blight.

The city went over budget on blight reduction efforts.

To find more money to combat blight, city council is considering a plan to increase fines for signs illegally placed in the public right of way.

If passed, it would increase penalty for one sign from $50-$150.

City council member Richard Clark says signs are a big part of the city's blight problem.

“If blight is something, we're going to have to place priorities, and so you're going to have to find the money. You're going to have the money to keep blight,” Clark said.

The city has until the end of August to finalize blight funding and the rest of the city budget.