JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — City auditors are raising serious questions about how the Jacksonville Transportation Authority handles your tax dollars.
At a City Council Financial Audit and Oversight (FAO) Select Committee meeting on Thursday, they laid out a blunt picture of JTA’s finances and how difficult it’s been to get answers about the agency’s finances.
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The auditors said during the meeting they see a pattern with JTA.
We learned of a history of missed answers and poor financial projections that eventually led to a hole in the budget north of $30 million.
Auditors laid it all out and they didn’t hold back.
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“They have been the most difficult agency to work with,” they said.
Pulling teeth. That’s how council auditors describe getting answers from JTA about the agency’s finances.
And it’s in writing. Twice in their report, auditors asked JTA what it cut. Twice, no explanation.
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For years, the auditors said their quarterly reviews flagged budget gaps and late reports.
And for years, JTA found a way to land the plane before the fiscal year ran out. Not this time.
By June, JTA’s own numbers projected a $31.8 million hole, a decrease of $17.4 million coming in.
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And an increase of $14.4 million more going out, over what the budget allowed.
And where did the budget grow? JTA’s self-driving vehicle program, the NAVI, and its Autonomous Innovation Center, up more than $10.8 million.
“They under budgeted on their fringe benefits across multiple division on multiple occasions,” the auditor said.
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Fringe benefits, the costs stacked on top of paychecks, swelled past $7.4 million.
So, who’s getting that money? Bus drivers or the front office?
“I don’t know how we can do our job if we don’t ask (former JTA CEO) Nat Ford some questions,” Jacksonville City Councilman Rory Diamond said.
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So, who knew what, and when?
JTA CFO Randall Barnes said the board got quarterly reports, but no projections.
“If I’m a board member, I am sitting home angry as hell,” Jacksonville City Councilman Ron Salem said.
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Translation: the people responsible for overseeing JTA weren’t shown where the money was headed: Off the financial cliff that’s lead to nearly 200 layoffs, service cuts, and stalled projects.
“It’s wild to be on a board and not to get projections. And then it begs the second question: were they intentionally not given projections?” Diamond said.
Now, auditors want forecasts every month, in public, in front of the board.
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