As the Jacksonville Transportation Authority prepared to cut jobs and services to deal with a $39 million budget hole, records obtained by Action News Jax’s Ben Becker show the agency was still spending thousands on travel, even approving one request on the same day massive layoffs were announced.
‘No one is willing to say no’
The records show JTA spent more than $12,000 on airfare, hotels, and registration for four people attending the American Public Transportation Association conference in Chicago Oct. 4-7. Former CEO Nat Ford also attended, but JTA said he paid his own way.
JTA TRAVEL DOCS.pdf by ActionNewsJax
The JTA-funded travelers were Board Vice Chair Patricia Sams, board member Alan Hopkins, Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Smith, and project manager Alexander Traversa…