Navigation Jacksonville City Council finds $66K to make up shortfall in Article V funding for legal aid
With Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) facing a loss of $66,000 in Article V funding from its share of a criminal court surcharge, the Jacksonville City Council identified an equal amount from elsewhere in the budget in order to avoid cuts to JALA’s services to the community.
The council found the funds after JALA CEO Jim Kowalski met with its finance committee to explain the importance of the funding to JALA’s work in housing stability and other areas important to the city. These non-taxpayer funds, based on a surcharge on criminal defendants, are steadily decreasing throughout the state, according to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, noting Jacksonville does not provide any general support for civil legal aid, “making Article V funds increasing critical.”
Councilmember Joyce Morgan pursued the issue until a solution was found.
