Metro Jacksonville

QuoteThe Jacksonville Transportation Authority has drawn the wrath of a second government agency over its spending practices.

The Florida Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General says JTA failed to follow proper procedures in managing a $7.5 million public transit block grant that went to the authority in 2009 for its bus system. Half of that money came from the state, which is why the audit occurred.

The state says JTA put the money in its general fund, charged the state for expenses earlier than allowed, and spent the money on capital expenses like generators, in violation of state rules.

The report recommends the state consider seeking reimbursement of its $3.75 million, and also said the state could consider suspending future funding until JTA establishes better accounting practices.

But FDOT Inspector General Ron Russo said that is unlikely to happen because the state prefers to work with JTA.

“This is sloppy bookkeeping,” Russo said. “We didn’t find any malice coming from JTA.”

The state will need 30-60 days to help JTA set up new accounting practices that include segregating grant money from general revenue money, Russo said.

JTA also is involved in a dispute with the Jacksonville City Council Auditor’s Office over whether it has properly spent Better Jacksonville road construction money. JTA argues it has spent money correctly in both situations.

“I do not like the way this looks,” JTA Executive Director Michael Blaylock said. “But I’m convinced every red cent has been expended for the proper purposes.”

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-07-03/story/report-says-jta-owes-state-375-million

Doesn't look good, especially right after floating the "want more taxes" boat.

JTA needs a full audit, not just a FDOT project audit.

Where are the JTA 2009 audited financials?

First Coast needs a regional transportation authority, it's clear these birds can't run the ship.

Imo, JTA has limited time to get its act together and to show some improvement.  If not, they can kiss that gas tax revenue good bye.  The more and more, things stay the same, the better chance the general public is going to raise hell over extending this temporary gift to them.

They could use monies from the Historic Preservation Fund to repay the state! :)

Quote from: spuwho on July 03, 2010, 11:45:03 PM
First Coast needs a regional transportation authority, it's clear these birds can't run the ship.

the problem is JTA could be the agency that becomes the RTA

Nothing like putting foxes in charge of the hen house is there?

More evidence to back up my stated position that JTA plays with the numbers and lacks any credibility on any issue.  JTA's self-serving, creative and misleading accounting is being used, at a minimum, to cover its incompetence.  JTA has plenty of money to better operate transit and build those bus shelters.  It just chooses to waste the money on its pet projects and the salaries and benefits of its own employees.

I wouldn't count on these guys delivering mass transit competently in our lifetimes.  Expect more Skyway-type fiascoes, urban sprawl road projects, and mishandled business ventures like the shelter ads.

Quote“I do not like the way this looks,” JTA Executive Director Michael Blaylock said. “But I’m convinced every red cent has been expended for the proper purposes.”

Boy, this quote inspires confidence.  Translation: "I don't really know what's going on but, I HOPE for the sake of my job, it turns out all right."

Where is the JTA board on all of this?  Time for them to demand accountability on behalf of the taxpayers.

Still waiting for those updated financials to be posted on their web site.  Approaching 2 years overdue.

Here is the full article:

QuoteReport says JTA owes state $3.75 million
Source URL: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-07-03/story/report-says-jta-owes-state-375-million

By Larry Hannan

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority has drawn the wrath of a second government agency over its spending practices.

The Florida Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General says JTA failed to follow proper procedures in managing a $7.5 million public transit block grant that went to the authority in 2009 for its bus system. Half of that money came from the state, which is why the audit occurred.

The state says JTA put the money in its general fund, charged the state for expenses earlier than allowed, and spent the money on capital expenses like generators, in violation of state rules.

The report recommends the state consider seeking reimbursement of its $3.75 million, and also said the state could consider suspending future funding until JTA establishes better accounting practices.

But FDOT Inspector General Ron Russo said that is unlikely to happen because the state prefers to work with JTA.

“This is sloppy bookkeeping,” Russo said. “We didn’t find any malice coming from JTA.”

The state will need 30-60 days to help JTA set up new accounting practices that include segregating grant money from general revenue money, Russo said.

JTA also is involved in a dispute with the Jacksonville City Council Auditor’s Office over whether it has properly spent Better Jacksonville road construction money. JTA argues it has spent money correctly in both situations.

“I do not like the way this looks,” JTA Executive Director Michael Blaylock said. “But I’m convinced every red cent has been expended for the proper purposes.”

Blaylock said he believes the issue with the state is a misunderstanding, and said JTA is compiling more documentation to show it did nothing wrong.

But if the state wants JTA to do things differently, the agency is willing to be flexible, Blaylock said.

The state and JTA entered into a joint participation agreement that spelled out how the grant money would be spent. The state alleges JTA was required to spend all the money on administration, management and operation costs.

But the audit found that JTA spent money on capital costs, which was forbidden under the joint participation agreement, said Joseph Maleszewski, director of audits for the Office of Inspector General.

JTA disagrees.

Spokesman Mike Miller pointed to four times in the joint participation agreement where capital construction costs are mentioned.

But Maleszewski said those references are boilerplate language the state includes in all agreements. The first page of the agreement spelled out what the money can be used for, and capital construction costs weren’t included, he said.

The audit did not include a summary of what the capital costs were.

The state also alleges JTA didn’t establish a separate account for the $7.5 million, and billed the state for expenses that occurred prior to the start of the joint participation agreement in January 2009.

stjr.....I know beyond a doubt, JTA uses the same "Triple Book Keeping System" that Johnny uses! Either way, both places need to be cleaned out ......like right now! I have not forgotten about the shelter ballox either and as you say "Pet Projects, salaries and benefits of its own employees.......make that upper management"! I concur about the delivery aspect also............not in our lifetimes, unless upper management is given walking papers! Let them lend their expertise to another world............how about Columbia?