Board Also Selects New Slate of Officers for Incoming Fiscal Year
[Jacksonville, FL – September 29, 2025] – The Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) Board of Directors voted unanimously today approving two resolutions: One that opposes amendments proposed by the Jacksonville City Council to change the organization’s 2026 budget and another in opposition to Resolution 2025-695, which was submitted to the Jacksonville City Council without consent from the JAA and seeks changes to the Authority’s charter through the State Legislature.
The first resolution in opposition to City Council’s amendments to the JAA’s 2026 budget stems from a legal opinion the Authority received from the law firm of Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC. The opinion, which was partially written by a retired Florida Supreme Court Justice, encouraged the JAA Board to pass a resolution rejecting City Council’s changes.
The firm found that adopting City Council’s amendments would “result in multiple forms of revenue diversion, placing both the City of Jacksonville and JAA in danger of potentially severe federal penalties.” It goes on to state that “knowingly violating federal law would be as ill-advised as it sounds and, standing alone, fully justifies rejecting the amendment. Adopting City Council’s Amendments would also repeal JAA’s extant agreement with Million Air and force JAA to breach that contract.”
The second resolution specifically opposes Resolution 2025-695, which was submitted without JAA’s support. This legislation asks the Florida State Legislature to consider and approve Local Bill J-2 which seeks changes to JAA’s charter. If approved at the state level, the proposed legislation would:
- Rename the organization to the Jacksonville Aviation and Aerospace Authority
- Redundantly assign authority and responsibility that already exists with JAA for the economic development of Cecil Airport
- Require at least one of the Mayoral appointees and one of the Governor appointees of the JAA board “be from the aerospace or related industry”
The JAA Board of Directors also voted to confirm a new slate of officers for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. David Hodges will serve as the incoming board chair, Fernando Acosta-Rua will serve as the new vice chair. Sol Brotman and Bill Gulliford will repeat their roles as treasurer and secretary, respectively.
Media Contact
Michael Stewart
VP, External Affairs
Jacksonville Aviation Authority
Ph: (904) 741-2721
Cell: (904) 945-6300