Jacksonville requests $6M in state funds to phase out failing septic tanks

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Just days after Jacksonville City Council decided to approve more than $ 14 million in city funding to remove failing septic tanks, city guides are hoping that Tallahassee may raise more money.

Jacksonville is also asking the state for $ 6 million to instead hook up homes with broken septic tanks to the city sewer service.

State Senator Aaron Bean told News4Jax Thursday that he was optimistic that lawmakers were making exiting septic tanks a priority and would approve funding not just in Jacksonville but across the state.

Requests from Jacksonville residents to drain their failing septic tanks are being passed on to Florida Senate lawmakers. Edward Exson has pleaded with the City of Jacksonville to keep its promise for decades. He says his grandchildren and their parents will not be staying with them at his Northside home because of the limitations of his small septic tank.

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“If they come to town, if their father takes them to town, they won’t stay with their grandparents,” Exson said. “It won’t take them because of the septic tanks.”

Exson is not alone. More than 1,600 other families in the Biltmore, Christobel, and Beverly Hills neighborhoods are waiting for the city of Jacksonville to deliver on its promise.

Bean said the concerns of Jacksonville residents are being discussed at the Florida Capitol. For the next four weeks, they will debate the city’s application for $ 6 million in government funding.

“We have taken a huge step to keep this budget move alive. There is money at stake keeping this proposal open and open for consideration,” said Bean.

According to Bean, the senators hope to finalize the state budget next week. He says Jacksonville is unlikely to get approved for its full $ 6 million request, but he’s optimistic that the city will get some cash. According to Bean, lawmakers fully understand the environmental impact of septic tank failure.

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“Septic tank failure is becoming more common not just in Jacksonville but across the state, so more and more senators and their cities are advocating similar projects in their city,” said Bean.

The Jacksonville septic tank exit program also receives $ 12.5 million from JEA.

Earlier this year, the city announced that it was unable to complete the project in the three identified neighborhoods because the cost of replacing the septic tanks was higher than originally anticipated. Therefore, the city continues to seek the necessary funding.

Copyright 2021 by WJXT News4Jax – All rights reserved.

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