Some Jacksonville councilmembers want option to tax food, beverage sales to address homelessness

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FLV) – Some Jacksonville City Council members want the Florida Legislature to give the county the authority to impose certain local option food and beverage taxes to help fund homeless programs, according to city documents. 

Republican Councilman Michael Boylan and Democrat Councilman Jimmy Peluso introduced the resolution, which Boylan said asks the Duval Legislative Delegation to request the state legislature approve the bill giving the county this taxing authority.

The bill on the city’s website said it would allow the county by a majority vote to impose a 2% tax on the sale of food, beverages or alcoholic beverages in hotels and motels only.

The bill also said it would allow the county to impose a 1% tax on food, beverage or alcoholic beverages in establishments that are licensed by the state to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, except for hotels and motels.

However, the 1% tax would not apply to any alcoholic beverage sold by the package for off-premises consumption.

The resolution will be introduced during Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Boylan told Florida’s Voice that the tax recommendation would provide an ongoing funding source for long-term housing and wraparound services to homeless people. The recommendation, he said, came from the Critical Quality of Life Issues Committee.

The councilman said “it sounds like we’re imposing a dollar or 1%, tax or 2% tax,” but said they are not.

“We’re really just trying to create the path for us to say, is this an option we want to pursue if we find that it’s appropriate for us to do so,” Boylan said.

Boylan said the city has had “great success” in securing funding with other services for homelessness, but “obviously, it’s not addressing the entire need.”

“So we need to make a determination, how effectively are the dollars being used that they already secure on an annual basis? And then what’s necessary for us to really make a dent in it, particularly as it relates to downtown,” Boylan said.

Boylan explained they also need to determine what the “appropriate funding source” would be to implement long-term housing and programs to homeless people, what the infrastructure would entail for the administration management, and to determine a review of the program to “make sure it’s living up to its expectations” as it is developed.

The councilman said the reason some councilmembers are pursuing the additional sales tax as an option is because Miami instituted this tax “some years ago, and it’s proved to be very helpful in the creation of the trust fund that supports their homeless issues in Miami.”

Boylan said the local food and beverage sales tax is “not the only path” to secure the funds to provide long-term housing and wraparound services to homeless people.

He said it could be done within the context of the existing budget process, but if it is determined that “this is a good way to go, to address these issues and do so effectively,” it “would not be an option” unless the state legislature provides the council with the opportunity to implement it.

“So it’s really just a tool in the toolbox right now,” Boylan said.

Boylan said the programs introduced in the resolution are “not shelters,” saying homeless shelters are a “band aid.”

“It’s not just a matter of taking somebody who can say, ‘Here’s an apartment go live in it.’ It’s ‘here’s an apartment to go live in it. Here are the programs adjacent to that that can support you to making you a productive citizen,’” Boylan explained.

Florida’s Voice asked Boylan if he thinks this resolution is a good option as inflation is currently high across the country.

Boylan said the homeless population is “costing us taxpayers now in a very tangible way and an argument can be made.”

“Well, if it’s costing us so much money now, maybe there are some funds there,” Boylan said.

He said he understands the “cost of everything is going up.”

“But we can’t discount the fact that these folks, number one is, you know, it’s a Christian thing to do, to provide the help for others who are less fortunate than ourselves,” Boylan said.

The resolution said the Duval Delegation Local Bill hearing would occur on Sept. 27 in City Council Chambers.