A bill being introduced today to the Jacksonville City Council would change language that has been in city law for decades but has been ignored as long as anyone can remember.

Except for this month, when it helped derail a park project.

“It’s been overridden a number of times,” said Councilman Bill Gulliford. “If you’re going to just keep overriding it, why keep doing that?”

Gulliford’s bill (2012-198) would rewrite a rule that the council cannot add to its budget of capital projects — things that last, like buildings and parks — without waiting for the next budget year or finding that waiting would hurt the city’s interests.

The city has changed its capital plan many times before, but the rule was invoked this month by critics opposed to plans for a $75,000 dog park in Arlington.

Councilman Robin Lumb was swayed by their argument, and his decision became the swing vote that killed the dog park. Gulliford supported the park bill.

Gulliford’s bill would rework the rule to say the council can consider other factors, one of which is whether a delay until the next year is appropriate.

Lumb said the existing rule, found in city ordinance books dating to 1983, might help lawmakers keep a disciplined approach to spending — if someone follows it.

“I have a great deal of respect for Bill Gulliford,” he said, but added: “I think what we really should do is look at the wisdom of the original language.”

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-03-26/story/after-being-use...