JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee held its final budget meeting Friday before the mayor’s proposed $2 million budget heads to a full council vote.

Mayor Donna Deegan unveiled the proposed 2025-2026 budget on July 14, along with a $687 million Capital Improvement Plan. 

In a last-minute motion, amendments proposed by Councilman Rory Diamond, which he dubbed “Big Beautiful Amendments,” were added before the committee’s final approval.

• Ban on taxpayer funding for immigrants lacking permanent legal status
• Ban on taxpayer funding for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives
• Ban on taxpayer funding for abortion and abortion-related services defined under Florida Statute

Diamond announced the proposed amendments on Aug. 5. At the time, the amendment package included a $100 million property tax cut, with a reduction of roughly one millage rate and the elimination of all affinity boards and commissions. However, these changes were not formally introduced.

On Aug. 5, Diamond said Deegan’s proposed budget was “unsustainable and misplaced spending priorities” and argued the burden on taxpayers and homeowners is skyrocketing. 

On Friday, Deegan denounced the policy amendments, calling them “unnecessary.”

“These divisive amendments do not belong in a budget bill,” Deegan said in a statement. “I’m extremely disappointed that the majority of this Finance Committee went along with yet another attempt to polarize our community with toxic DC culture wars that hurt our city. We have so much momentum right now and I will not let us be distracted.”

Council members have said their goal is to reduce taxes while also putting money back into reserves.

A final vote on the mayor’s proposed budget is expected for September.