JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A new audit found former Mayor Alvin Brown's administration tried to hide positions for his summer jobs program inside JFRD's budget.
Brown touted his summer jobs program for the past several years, saying hundreds of kids in our area would learn how to work in the real world. One of them was Marielle Billingsley, who says it helped her get a full-time job.
"It's a great experience. It's great to put kids through it," Billingsley said.
But according to the 26-page audit, 10 coaching jobs in that program were put into the system under the budget for 10 vacant jobs in JFRD because there were no "part-time hours" available.
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The audit shows the former administration never established a budget for those 10 employees, and had "the intent to keep this process as confidential."
The audit even called the move by the Brown administration "nontransparent."
"These job coaches were not firefighters," said John Winkler, head of Duval County Concerned Taxpayers. "One man's lack of transparency is another man's coverup. That's a real problem."
Since the program has helped people like Billingsley get a job, she hopes this audit won't stop it from continuing. "You would think there'd be more money in this department to help kids," she said.
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JFRD responded to the audit, agreeing with many of the findings and telling Action News it has already implemented some changes:
"JFRD already relies upon a comprehensive system to manage its payroll, which includes more than 1,300 personnel, uniformed and civilian, as well as a variety of shifts, and numerous bargaining units. However, JFRD’s administration welcomes the opportunity to improve the department’s policies, procedures, and processes. In fact, JFRD has already implemented some of the Council Auditor’s recommendations."
We reached out to former top members of the Brown Administration, but have not receive a statement.