Scrimping and saving for the holidays is common practice, but this year thousands of city employees will be getting an added financial boost courtesy of the taxpayers. At a time of budget cuts and belt tightening, the city has figured out how to divvy up more than half a million dollars to give to city workers.
Next year, taxpayers will begin paying new city fees to help balance the budget. However, this year, some tax dollars are going to pay for city employee bonuses.
Before the city begins collecting garbage and storm-water fees, it'll be handing out bonuses totaling $660,000 in bonus money.
"It is absolutely a lot of money particularly in these financial times," said mayor's office spokeswoman Susie Wiles.
The bonus money is something the city said it has no choice but to hand out.
"I believe we should abide by this. The employees have done a wonderful job, and the thing is this was in stone that they would receive this bonus," said councilwoman Glorious Johnson.
For the average city employees, the bonus will mean pocketing an extra $200. There was not word on what the highest bonus would payout.
"I am not crazy about it," one Jacksonville resident admitted. "I am not crazy about fees in general."
"For them to be increasing these other things, I don't think they should be doing that," another resident said.
In addition to new city fees, a number of social agencies have fallen victim to budget cuts.
Channel 4 checked with some of the agencies that were cut, such as the Non-Profit Center, Legal Aid and the Justice Coalition. The agencies said they were not surprised about the bonuses and that they actually supported the bonuses because they believe it would create better city employees.
"We always expect criticisms but remember this was last year. This fiscal year, when we really hit the wall on some of the challenges, employees are not entitled to any type of a bonus," Wiles said.
City officials said this is the last year that bonuses would be given out.
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