If you almost passed out after opening your JEA bill, you are not alone.  Many of our readers are upset about their bills and we get it.  Ours was a shock too!

If you’re struggling to pay the rent, feed your kids, or get gas because your JEA bill just devoured half your paycheck—welcome to Jacksonville. It’s past time someone called BS on the high-tax-and-utility racket.

Key Facts That Tell the Real Story

• Property taxes have skyrocketed. According to DOGE, property tax collections in Jacksonville have surged 57% since 2020. That’s not “holding the line.” That’s a backdoor tax hike.
• Utility bills won’t let up. JEA raised rates again in 2025, with another hike looming in October. The average monthly residential bill has jumped from about $205 to $210, with more increases on the way for water, sewer, and electric customers.
• Fixed-income residents are being crushed. These increases aren’t just numbers. They’re trade-offs. People are skipping meals, rationing medications, and falling behind on basic bills just to keep the lights on and water flowing.

Executive Salaries That’ll Make You Grit Your Teeth

While you’re deciding whether to pay your JEA bill or buy groceries, here’s what JEA leadership is taking home:

• CEO Vickie Cavey earns $700,000 a year, plus a $2,000/month expense allowance and an optional $850/month car allowance. She also gets annual raises and bonuses.
• Top execs like the COO and CFO each earn over $400,000, with some vice presidents making 23% raises in a single year.
• Even non-technical leadership roles, like “Chief External Affairs Officer,” are raking in nearly $385,000 annually.

Let that sink in: While working families are being lectured about “sustainability” and “long-term investments,” the JEA C-suite is doing just fine. In fact, they’re thriving—off your utility bill. And to top it off – when they retire a generous amount of their income goes with them.  (They have a rich retirement plan.)

Meanwhile, City Hall Sleeps at Night?

It’s not just JEA. Jacksonville’s City Council and the Mayor’s Office continue approving spending like they’re running a tech startup, not a government for the people.

• Stadium deals for a billionaire’s hobby ✅
• Grants to favored nonprofits with political ties? ✅
• Accountability to the public footing the bill? ❌

All while ignoring the pleas of everyday citizens asking for one simple thing: relief.

Final Word

This spending and raising of rates isn’t sustainable. You can’t keep draining residents while padding paychecks and calling it “public service.”

To JEA executives and Jacksonville officials: You’re not fooling anyone. We see the bloat. We feel the pain. And we’re tired of paying for your mismanagement.

Open the books. Cut the waste. Freeze the hikes. Give a crap about the taxpayers!

Because something has to give—and it will not be us anymore!