JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Whether you've noticed or haven't thought about it, there are security cameras all throughout Jacksonville. City Council members will decide whether they want to spend roughly $3.5 million to update or install security cameras across the city.
The money is already in the budget, but the city council would still have to approve the measure.
“Technology changes almost daily, so we’re just trying to keep up,” Council Member Sam Newby said.
City Council introduced a plan Tuesday to upgrade the city’s security cameras, from the hardware to make them work to upgrading, replacing and getting new cameras entirely.
Under the plan, nearly $500,000 would be spent on equipment at Ed Ball and Water Street parking garages.
The rest would be spread out across the city including Jacksonville’s Public Library, Public Works and the Tax Collector.
Upgrading the system would allow for higher quality recording and allow the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to connect to each of the locations through their real-time crime center.
Some may argue this is another attempt at "Big Brother" watching our every move, so First Coast News asked Newby if the 1,724 cameras affected were too many.
“No, it’s not, because we have a lot of public buildings and all the cameras are public buildings and like I say -- public safety and our employees and our constituents are our main concern," he said.
Council members Sam Newby, Randy White and Matt Schellenberg voiced support for the bill. Schellenberg told First Coast News putting the money towards upgrading cameras would help increase clarity across the city.
“If this saved just one life, it’s definitely worth the $3 million," Newby said.
A vote is likely in the next month and is expected to go through the finance and public safety committees before heading to the full council for a vote.