JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville City Council member wants someone from outside city government to investigate the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s financial problems.
Councilman Ron Salem, one of three members appointed to a new financial oversight committee examining JTA, says an independent audit is necessary to get to the bottom of how the agency ended up $40 million short — a shortfall that led to nearly 200 layoffs.
“I think it needs to be somebody from the outside who’s never had anything to do with JTA to determine what exactly happened, educate us, and we’ve got to make sure it never happens again,” Salem said.
Committee takes a closer look at JTA
Council President Nick Howland reconvened the Financial Audit and Oversight Committee on Wednesday to investigate JTA’s finances — one day after the state attorney general subpoenaed the agency…