For some reason, the city’s annual audit is missing.

City Hall says it is because the auditors asked for extra time.

But others are wondering.

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2016-17 should have been received and posted online weeks ago.

It would show what the city’s income and expenses actually were, compared to the fantasies in the budget passed in September 2016.

In a few weeks, the mayor’s proposed budget for 2018-19 is to be unveiled to the City Council, and the public.

Those imaginary numbers could be compared to reality, if the annual financial report were available.

But it isn’t – yet.

We can’t imagine why auditors would still be massaging the numbers at this point in time.

But maybe the Mayor’s Office has a ready explanation. Someone should call Sam Mousa, chief administrative officer to the mayor. Since Mr. Mousa has more than 40 years of executive management in the public and private sectors he should know better than putting out a budget without the actual numbers from the past.

At this point we are all deeply concerned about a missing audit. Let’s hope there’s no missing money as well.

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://eyeonjacksonville.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Lloyd-Brown.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Lloyd was born in Jacksonville. Graduated from the University of North Florida. He spent nearly 50 years of his life in the newspaper business …beginning as a copy boy and retiring as editorial page editor for Florida Times Union. He has also been published in a number of national newspapers and magazines, as well as Internet sites. Married with children. Military Vet. Retired. Man of few words but the words are researched well, deeply considered and thoughtfully written.[/author_info] [/author]