Amendment 3 Budget Contingency

At a glance

What: how the city prepares for Amendment 3, a November 3 ballot measure that officials said could cut city revenue by about 200 million dollars the following year.
Where it stands: the council did not carve out a contingency fund. The administration kept recurring costs flat and added no positions; some grants are held back and tied to the election result.
What's next: the result is known in November; members expect town meetings and possible budget reopening if it passes.
Official minutes (2026-09-22, City Council): the minutes carry no separate action on the contingency; it appears through the budget votes on 2026-0504 and related bills.

Dr. Salem: should have set aside 100 million dollars; the budget will probably be reopened.
Weinstein (chief administrative officer): kept recurring costs down and has 11 months to adjust; the council auditor (Peterson) said reserves still meet the two-month standard.
Matt Carlucci: hold town meetings before mock budgets. Lahnen: holds on grants give a head start.
2026-10-06 update: the council auditor (Peterson) told the Finance Committee that if Amendment 3 passes there is no effect on 2026-27 but about 200 million dollars less revenue in 2027-28 and 300 million the year after. The committee deferred Gateway Jax Downtown Mixed-Use Completion Grant to see the result.

About 10 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-09-22 - City Council	10

Diamond raised the impact of Amendment 3's passage; the Mayor's Office (Weinstein) said next year's budget will reflect the required reduction.

Auditor gave revenue-impact estimates; Gateway Jax grant deferred to November 4 to await the vote.

Salem called not reserving funds a mistake; the administration and Finance said the flat budget and 34-day hold prepare the city.

Minutes: no separate action.