Hang Onto Your Wallets, Jacksonville

Jacksonville, hold onto your wallets. Mayor Peyton was on Week in Review (PBS Channel 7 WJCT) last night. (The show repeats Sunday at 11:30 a.m., if you missed it.) One of the topics was the new courthouse.

Mayor Peyton stated that his Commission for the new courthouse is planning to build a complete courthouse. In other words, they have abandoned the idea of doing the criminal half now and waiting to do the civil courts until later. Additionally, he expects that they will build "up, not out" to save costs, which it would. He said they are planning from the "inside out," meaning function will override decoration.

Although the courthouse will not be an architectural wonder as with the previous design, Mayor Peyton admitted whatever we build will cost more than what "half" a courthouse would cost. He stated that the goal is to have the building finished by 2010.

Now, one of the promises made to voters to get the original bond issue approved was that the old courthouse's property would go back onto the tax rolls when it is sold to private developers. (Of course, we were promised the same thing with the old City Hall when the new City Hall was remodelled. We are still waiting for that to happen.)

On last night's show, Mayor Peyton hinted that other possibilities are under consideration. The current courthouse's property might be turned into a park or be the site for a "new convention center," conveniently located "next to the Hyatt."

So, we poor Jacksonville taxpayers in the next four years will get the bloated bill for a new courthouse, probably lose the revenue opportunities from the current courthouse's property, and likely be put further into hock for a convention center.

Why, oh why, couldn't the Democrats in this time given us someone besides Aunt Jemima to run against Peyton? We have four more years before both parties have another chance to find financially responsible and experienced candidates for mayor. Like I said, hang onto your wallets.