Jacksonville True Commission Meeting – September 24, 2026

The Jacksonville True Commission met on September 24, 2026, to receive an audit report, discuss budget variances, hear public testimony on Amendment 3 and CPAC matters, and plan special meetings to analyze the potential fiscal impact of proposed state constitutional Amendment 3. Commissioners also addressed internal communication strategies, efficiency findings, and corrections to previous minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John J. Nooney (address on file) expressed concerns about the “public trust” being “crushed,” cited lack of Office of General Counsel (OGC) representation at six CPAC meetings and the Mayor’s Disability Council, and mentioned a potential fine‑land acquisition list with only three properties. He warned that if Amendment 3 passes, counties will scramble for revenue and noted that Jacksonville could lose residents to St. Johns and Clay counties. He urged the commission to focus on public access to waterways.
• Ernest Smith (Chair, Urban Core CPAC) updated that the Urban Core CPAC would soon vote on a representative to the True Commission and asked the commission to convene a subcommittee on Amendment 3 to advise council on budget allocations. He noted that council is now listening to CPACs – e.g., CPACs were invited to submit CIP requests for the first time during budget hearings.

Discussion Items

• Auditor’s Report (Report No. 908) – Mr. Carter of the City Council Auditor’s Office presented a quarterly summary for the nine months ended June 30, 2026 (FY 2025‑26). Key points:
  • Overall favorable budget variance of $29.1 million (down from $30.4 million in Q2).
  • Revenues favorable by $1.4 million; expenditures under budget by $27.6 million.
  • Three funds projected negative cash at year‑end: Special Events Fund (carryovers), Motor Vehicle Inspection Fund (lower fund balance), and Office of General Counsel (internal service billing issues due to vacant attorney positions).
  • Independent agencies: JEA favorable variance $119.3 million (less capital transfers); JTA unfavorable variance $31.8 million ($17.4M revenue shortfall + $14.4M expenditure overrun), requiring a year‑end budget amendment; JPA favorable $8.5 million; JAA surplus $64.4 million (including $19.3M insurance proceeds from garage fire).
  • Commissioners questioned JTA’s $14.4M expense variance, primarily due to under‑budgeting for the CTC (community transportation coordinator) contract and associated fringe benefits. The JTA CFO is new (Randall Barnes, former city treasurer). The JTA also faces a $10.5M shortfall from half‑cent sales tax and constitutional gas tax.
  • The gas tax split (currently 5 of 6 cents to JTA) will shift to 3 of 6 cents in 2036.
• Public Service Grant Subcommittee Update – Commissioner Loors proposed a study comparing grant payments to organizations that employ council members versus those that do not, using statistical methods to detect potential bias. He offered his expertise as a UNF political science professor. The commission discussed having him draft a research design for later consideration.
• Commissioner Comments & Budget Strategy – Commissioners debated how to make their recommendations heard by city council, noting that previous reports have been ignored. Commissioner Barr reported finding a ~$600,000 overpayment to FDOT for mowing on Beach Boulevard after meeting directly with the mowing/landscape division – an example of low‑hanging efficiency. Discussion ensued on the need to prioritize “tier one” issues and work as a team. Several commissioners expressed frustration with JTA’s repeated failures. Commissioner Day provided detailed analysis of Amendment 3’s potential impact: if passed, net ad valorem revenue would drop from $1.248 billion to roughly $1 billion, forcing deep cuts. He noted public safety (JSO, JFRD) accounts for nearly $1 billion and is a charter responsibility, so cuts would likely fall on non‑essential services. The commission discussed raising the millage rate as an alternative but acknowledged political difficulty.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Correction – Approved corrections: corrected spelling of “Tyson” and added Commissioner Loors’ request to include discussion of regression‑based forecasting in the prior minutes.
• Amendment 3 Special Meetings – After debate over a proposed subcommittee vs. committee‑of‑the‑whole, Chair Day withdrew his motion and instead exercised discretion to call two special commission meetings for in‑depth study of Amendment 3: September 17, 2026 (Thursday, 4 p.m.) and October 8, 2026 (regular meeting, with Council Auditor Philip Peterson as guest). A potential third special meeting on October 22 was not confirmed due to scheduling conflicts. Individual commissioners will analyze the budget and bring findings to the September 17 special meeting.
• Direct Communication Encouraged – Commissioners agreed that individual members may meet with city departments and report back, as long as they do not discuss matters before the commission among each other outside noticed meetings.