JULY 23 TO JULY 29, 2026 | JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
BUSINESS & LEGAL NEWS IN BAKER, CLAY, DUVAL, NASSAU AND ST. JOHNS COUNTIES
Tequila’s Town in the Harbour Village shopping center at 13475 Atlantic Blvd.
THE RESTAURANT ISSUE Some Jacksonville-area restaurants are closing, others are finding creative ways to hang on and a few are betting on expansion. PAGE 4
DEEGAN DELIVERS $2.03B BUDGET
INSIDE
REGIONAL NEWS
Neptune Beach exploring impact fees to help fund capital projects PAGE 6
CITY GOVERNMENT
DIA board votes to demolish Sax Seafood building PAGE 16
Photo by Joe Lister
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan presented her $2.03 billion proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27 to City Council on July 20.
Some Council members want funds set aside in case a November ballot measure cuts city revenue by more than 10%. BY JOE LISTER AND RIC ANDERSON STAFF WRITERS
J
acksonville Mayor Donna Deegan delivered a $2.03 billion budget to the City Council for review, focusing on public safety, infrastructure and return-on-investment during a 25-minute speech July 20.
The budget, with a 1%, $22.58 million increase from the approved fiscal year 2026 budget, includes $1.07 billion for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, along with $586.11 million in the first year of the city’s capital improvement plan. The budget also has $301.6 million for city services such as public
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works, parks, libraries, planning, economic development and more. The administration included $148.27 million in “people investments,” which focus on healthcare, housing and nonprofit spending, along with $502.89 million in what the administration called “other SEE BUDGET, PAGE 20
THE MATHIS REPORT
Bob’s Discount Furniture eyes 2 Jacksonville locations The city is reviewing permits for Bob’s Discount Furniture in Argyle Village shopping center in Southwest Jacksonville and at River City Marketplace in North Jacksonville. PAGE 14
THE BASCH REPORT
Johnson & Johnson leaders tout contact lens growth Johnson & Johnson announced June 15 it will invest more than $1 billion in Jacksonville to strengthen its Vision operations. PAGE 10 LAW AND THE COURTS
JALA receives more than $37,000 to help tenants The money comes from a class-action lawsuit against a local property manager by Story Law Group. PAGE 18
VOLUME 113, NO. 37 | TWO SECTIONS | PUBLISHED SINCE 1912