JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Jacksonville Transportation Authority board member said she warned Mayor Donna Deegan about invoices that now may be tied to an investigation by Florida’s Attorney General, as questions continue to mount over JTA’s finances after nearly 200 layoffs and the suspension and reduction of services.
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Megan Hayward, who previously served on the JTA board, is again speaking to Action News Jax’s Ben Becker, who first revealed JTA was facing a state probe.
What is the state looking for?
The state is seeking a variety of records, including contracts involving Jacobs Project Management Company, Jones Worley Design, and Mason Nye Murals, plus ridership numbers and communications between former CEO Nat Ford and his wife.
Hayward provided Becker with documents she says show billings from those three companies were coded as vehicle maintenance expenses under former JTA Chief Operating Officer Charles Frazier, who is no longer with the agency.
The subpoena specifically seeks records related to charges and payments approved by Frazier after Dec. 31, 2023.
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Hayward questioned why those expenses were categorized that way.
Becker: “Why do you believe it was listed that way?”
Hayward: “Part of it might have been to circumvent the administrative law put into place earlier the year before.”
Becker: “Circumvent?”
Hayward: “Yes.”
Action News Jax first reported in 2024 on a state law limiting how transportation agencies can spend state money on administrative costs. Hayward alleges some invoices were recategorized to avoid that oversight.
Hayward vs. Deegan
Hayward said she also raised those concerns directly with Mayor Donna Deegan during a March 2025 meeting.
Two weeks ago, Deegan referenced that meeting during an interview with reporters after the budget vote.
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“I went back and looked at the notes of my meeting with her,” Deegan said at the time.
Deegan did not acknowledge Hayward’s claim that she raised concerns about the invoices, saying the discussion focused on ridership figures and a JTA contract involving a firm that employs Ford’s wife.
Hayward, whom Deegan removed from the JTA board, disputes the mayor’s account.
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Hayward: “I brought up to the mayor that they [JTA] were filing invoices under a COO who was no longer in the state of Florida.”
Becker: “What did the mayor say to that?”
Hayward: “I think it was...” (smiles) “she didn’t really care.”
Last week, Hayward said Deegan was lying abut not knowing the extent of the financial crisis at the agency.
A spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office declined to provide Action News Jax with notes from the meeting, saying they are not public records. Action News Jax is evaluating options to obtain those records.
‘I’m angry’
The investigation comes as JTA faces a $39 million financial crisis and is expected to seek assistance from the City of Jacksonville.
“I’m angry at city leadership and authority leadership that they didn’t take this seriously enough,” said Hayward, who hopes the state’s investigation leads to answers about how taxpayer money was spent. “I would like some accountability for where taxpayer money went.”
What’s next
City Council has announced an audit and oversight probe into JTA.
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