Jacksonville Port Authority

The JPA is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. The Mayor of Jacksonville appoints four Board members, and the Florida Governor appoints three members. Each member serves a four-year, unpaid term. From its membership, the Board elects its own Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer for one-year terms.[8]

Tax dollars are not used to fund JAXPORT's operating expenses. Private companies lease space and equipment at the port, and that revenue is used to fund port operations. In 2010 JAXPORT recorded $50.6 million in operating revenues, and $32 million in operating expenses.[9] The authority does receive state and federal grants to pay for construction (capital) and security projects. JAXPORT itself has no authority to assess taxes.[10]

Due to the local maritime industry Jacksonville's maritime industry supports more than 65,000 employees. These include private sector jobs such as longshoremen, crane operators, truck drivers, warehouse workers, and others working in industries which rely on the port.[11]

• Expand Port Business, which would create new jobs and stimulate the economy in northeast Florida.
• Increase Cruise Business, which would increase income from tourism.
• Deepen The Harbor, which would allow "supersized" ships to dock. When the current Panama Canal expansion project was completed in 2014, jumbo ships from China began utilizing deep-water Atlantic Ocean ports. To remain competitive, Jacksonville began a project in 2011 to deepen their shipping channel from 42' to 47'. The JPA celebrated completion of that project on May 23, 2022.[12]

Every year, imported and exported goods are shipped from more than 100 countries through the Jacksonville port. In this harbor, the Jacksonville Port Authority owns the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal and three cargo terminals: the Blount Island Marine Terminal, Talleyrand Marine Terminal and Dames Point Marine Terminal.

Carnival Cruise Lines utilizes the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal to offer year-round service on the Carnival Ecstasy to Key West and the Bahamas.[13] The authority intends to relocate the terminal.[14]

The St. Johns River Ferry (also known as the Mayport Ferry) has provided service across the 9/10 mile between Mayport and Fort George Island since the 1874.[15] The Florida Department of Transportation had always been responsible for the ferry, but its funding was vetoed by Governor Charlie Crist for the 2007-2008 budget. The City of Jacksonville assumed the responsibility in 2007, and spent $1 million more than the income from fares. After Mayor John Peyton announced that there was no money available in the 2008 budget, JAXPORT took over operation of the ferry and lost half a million dollars each year, but used port revenue, not tax money, to underwrite the expense.[16] The ferry service operator is Hornblower Marine Services. In 2012 JAXPORT announced that it would no longer be responsible for the ferry. In response, the city commission created the new St. Johns River Ferry Commission. JAXPORT agreed to contribute $200,000 toward operations, the city of Jacksonville kicked in $200,000 with the state DOT paying $250,000.[17]