It looks like Jacksonville isn’t the only city interested in what Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s investigation into JTA will uncover.
Dallas is watching, too.
Outgoing JTA CEO Nat Ford is preparing to take the reins at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), but his new hometown is already getting an introduction to the financial mess he is leaving behind in Jacksonville.
FOX 4 Dallas is reporting on the criminal investigation, including subpoenas seeking records involving Ford, his wife, consultants, and questionable spending during his leadership.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville taxpayers are still trying to understand how JTA ended up with a nearly $40 million budget shortfall, 194 eliminated positions, and reduced transportation services.
And now Mayor Donna Deegan has received a subpoena seeking records related to a meeting with former JTA board member Megan Hayward, who says she warned city leadership about problems at the agency.
Here’s an interesting twist: According to FOX 4, JTA has until October 20 to produce records requested by investigators. Ford is expected to begin his new job at DART just one week later.
Talk about interesting timing!
No one should jump to conclusions about criminal wrongdoing. That’s why we have investigations.
But here’s what we do know: Jacksonville deserves answers about how JTA got into this financial predicament, who knew what was happening, and who was responsible for overseeing the public’s money.
And apparently, the folks in Dallas have a few questions of their own.
Read the FOX 4 Dallas report here.
We will be keeping our Eye on this one. And it looks like Dallas will be, too.
