JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan held her first in a series of town halls on Tuesday evening. The purpose is to allow residents to ask questions and comment on her recent budget proposal. 

The initial town hall was held at the Mandarin Senior Center where dozens of people all over Jacksonville showed up. 

“I came out tonight because I wanted to hear our mayor and also hear what the community was thinking around the Jacksonville city budget,” said meeting attendee Vanessa Cullins Hopkins.

Cullins Hopkins says she showed up to not only show her support for the mayor’s plan, but to also see what people across the city think about the proposal. 

“So I’m actually from District 10 but I had no problems driving out here 40 minutes to Mandarin because I wanted to hear what people were talking about in Mandarin and actually bring that back to our neighborhood and see if we can build some coalitions, build some bridges,” said Cullins Hopkins. 

Deegan gave a short presentation, breaking down some of the proposed budget items like health car, hunger, and affordable housing.

Afterwards, people lined up with their questions and comments, many of which were about healthcare services and what would happen if the city’s finance committee’s cuts are approved. Those cuts include money for affordable housing, and public health initiatives like Healthlink Jax, a pilot program that gives free health services to people in Jacksonville without insurance. 

Despite criticism from some on the city council, Mayor Deegan says she is not just trying to spend money frivolously. 

“I am not trying in any way to say that Jacksonville can provide healthcare for people, that’s not the point,” Deegan said. “We want to show a way forward. A more compassionate, and economically viable way for our city to survive as it grows by leaps and bounds.”

The mayor’s next town hall is scheduled for September 4 at 6 p.m. at First Coast High School. The final vote on the mayor’s budget is expected by the end of this month.