Jaguars Oppose Downtown Assessment Expansion
The Jacksonville Jaguars object to a council bill expanding the Downtown Business Improvement District through a 1.1-mill special assessment.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Legislative Policy
The Jacksonville Jaguars opposed Ordinance 2026-0814 at a City Council committee, a bill that would add the Sports and Entertainment District, the Shipyards, and parts of Brooklyn and LaVilla to the Downtown Business Improvement District. The measure would levy a 1.1-mill special assessment for tax years 2027 through 2037.
Why it matters
The bill would extend the district's assessment to new areas and end the exemption for newly built or substantially renovated residential property, affecting property owners across Jacksonville. The Jaguars' objection centers on including the Shipyards project and the Sports and Entertainment District.
The proposed 1.1-mill assessment would run for tax years 2027 through 2037 across an expanded district currently covering 1.3 square miles. The city's annual payment to Downtown Vision Inc. would be set at $823,000, and whether the bill advances remains unresolved.
The players
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are the National Football League franchise based in Jacksonville, Florida, whose stadium complex sits within the proposed district expansion area.
Nick Howland
Nick Howland is the President of the Jacksonville City Council who has publicly stated he would vote against the bill unless it is deferred.
Joe Carlucci
Joe Carlucci is the Vice President of the Jacksonville City Council and the sponsor of Ordinance 2026-0814.
Downtown Vision Inc.
Downtown Vision Inc. is the nonprofit organization that manages the Downtown Business Improvement District and receives an annual city contribution under the proposed agreement.
The details
The bill came before the Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee, where the committee adopted an amendment by voice vote making the city's services agreement with Downtown Vision effective Oct. 1, 2027. The amendment also removed a clause referencing Downtown Investment Authority board approval, and Jaguars land-use attorney Paul Harden spoke for the team.
Timeline
Tax years 2027 through 2037: proposed 1.1-mill special assessment would apply.
Oct. 1, 2027: city services agreement with Downtown Vision becomes effective.
Jan. 1: statutory deadline for passage of step-one legislation.
Aug. 10, 2027: final assessment hearing scheduled.
Legislative Context
The bill builds on the district's 2021 expansion, which brought the Downtown Business Improvement District to 1.3 square miles. Ordinance 2026-0814 would extend that footprint again, adding the Sports and Entertainment District, the Shipyards, and parts of Brooklyn and LaVilla.
Property owners within the expanded district would pay a 1.1-mill special assessment for tax years 2027 through 2037. Newly built residential property and substantially renovated residential property would lose the exemption under the proposed ordinance.
The takeaway
Residents and property owners in the affected neighborhoods should track the committee's vote and any deferral, since the assessment would apply to tax years beginning in 2027. The bill's outcome will determine whether the district's boundaries and residential exemption change.
What happens next
The step-one legislation faces a statutory passage deadline of Jan. 1, and a final assessment hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10, 2027.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Legislative Policy in Jacksonville.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
