Government of Jacksonville facts for kids
The government of Jacksonville is unique because it's combined with Duval County. This special setup happened in 1968 and is called the Jacksonville Consolidation. It means that one government manages both the city and the county.
The Mayor of Jacksonville is chosen by voters for a four-year term. The mayor is like the chief executive, leading the city's daily operations. The Jacksonville City Council has nineteen members. Fourteen of these members represent specific areas, and five represent the whole city. The mayor is in charge of most city departments. However, some services, like law enforcement and schools, are run by separate groups.
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How Jacksonville's Government Works
The most interesting thing about Jacksonville's government is that it's "consolidated." This means the city and county governments merged into one in 1968. Before that, Duval County had its own leaders. After the merger, the Mayor of Jacksonville and the City Council took over those roles.
Because of this, people living anywhere in Duval County, even outside Jacksonville city limits, can vote for the mayor and city council. They can even run for these positions! For example, in 1995, John Delaney became mayor even though he lived in Neptune Beach.
When the government merged, four smaller towns in Duval County chose to stay separate. These towns are Baldwin, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Jacksonville Beach. They provide their own local services. However, they can also ask the main Jacksonville government for help with services if needed. For instance, in 2006, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office started handling police duties for Baldwin.
The Mayor's Role
Jacksonville uses a "strong mayor" system. This means the mayor is the main leader and manager of the city. The mayor can say "no" to (veto) decisions made by the city council. The mayor also has the power to hire and fire the leaders of many city departments.
Keeping Jacksonville Safe
Law Enforcement
Before 1968, Jacksonville had its own police department, and Duval County had a separate sheriff's office. When the governments merged, these two groups joined together. They formed the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO). The JSO is led by an elected sheriff. This office is in charge of law enforcement and jails for the whole county.
Fire and Rescue Services
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) handles fire protection and ambulance services. They cover most of Duval County. However, Jacksonville Beach has its own fire department. Atlantic Beach has a fire station that the JFRD staffs. Baldwin has a volunteer fire department, and Neptune Beach gets fire protection from Atlantic Beach. The mayor appoints the JFRD Director/Fire Chief.
Independent Agencies
Some government services operate mostly on their own. They are not fully controlled by the city or county government. For example, the Duval County School Board runs the public schools. It has almost complete independence.
Jacksonville also has several other agencies that work mostly on their own. These include:
- JEA (for electricity and water)
- Jacksonville Port Authority (for the seaport)
- Jacksonville Transportation Authority (for public transport)
- Jacksonville Housing Authority (for housing programs)
- Jacksonville Aviation Authority (for airports)
The Duval County Soil and Water Conservation District helps protect the environment and supports farming.
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