Is JTA Just the Tip of the Iceberg?
Just when you think the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) scandal couldn’t get any worse, another bombshell drops.
Today, October 26, JTA Board Director J. Daniel Vallencourt released a stunning public statement alleging that former CEO Nat Ford and his executive leadership team withheld critical financial information, misled the Board about the agency’s financial condition, and allowed spending to spiral out of control.
Vallencourt is now calling for the resignations of JTA’s Interim CEO, COO, and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs.
And the timing? Today is also Nat Ford’s first day as the new CEO of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Quite a coincidence — and another dark stain on the reputation of Jacksonville’s public agencies.
Eye on Jacksonville has been investigating JTA’s finances and leadership practices, including requests for public records. These latest allegations raise even more serious questions about what was happening behind closed doors, who knew about it, and why taxpayers and board members weren’t getting the full picture.
Enough is enough.
It’s time for a major housecleaning in Jacksonville government. Not just at JTA, but across our taxpayer-funded authorities and agencies. We need independent financial and operational audits, transparency, accountability, and boards that actually govern instead of simply rubber-stamping management’s decisions.
Jacksonville taxpayers deserve better than another scandal followed by another promise to do better.
We commend Director Vallencourt for publicly acknowledging his own oversight failures and demanding answers. That’s where accountability begins.
Below is Director Vallencourt’s complete statement, released today. Read it for yourself. The taxpayers of Jacksonville deserve to know what’s been happening with their money.
Eye on Jacksonville will continue following the facts, asking the hard questions, and keeping our Eyes open for you, Jacksonville.
