News Summary
The Duval DOGE Special Committee has discovered nearly $18.5 million in unused capital improvement funds while reviewing city finances and addressing rising overtime expenses. The committee is scrutinizing overtime costs, which have surged by approximately $45.4 million from 2017 to 2024. The investigation reveals a need for financial efficiency within city departments and the potential for reallocating resources to mitigate rising costs. Upcoming discussions will take place during budget deliberations, amidst some political friction regarding the committee’s efforts.
Jacksonville – The Special Committee on Duval DOGE has revealed nearly $18.5 million in unused capital improvement funds while scrutinizing city finances amidst concerns about escalating overtime spending. This discovery comes as the committee has been conducting its investigation for a month, focusing primarily on financial efficiency within the city’s various departments.
During a recent meeting, the committee shared findings from the Office of the Inspector General regarding the use of purchasing cards, commonly referred to as ‘P cards’. Currently, there are 111 city employees authorized to utilize P cards, with total expenditures nearing $4.7 million over the last three years. However, the deputy inspector general reported no significant abuse or fraud related to this spending method.
Alongside the P card findings, the committee highlighted a shocking increase in overtime spending across city departments. From fiscal year 2017-2018 to fiscal year 2023-2024, overtime costs surged by approximately $45.4 million. The parks department notably surpassed its budget by $919,226 in the previous fiscal year, sparking discussions on possible measures to mitigate these expenses.
The committee is exploring several strategies to address the rising overtime costs, including the potential employment of private security services to lessen reliance on officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. This shift could significantly reallocate resources and reduce pressure on public safety departments already stretched thin by overtime demands.
In addition to the $18.5 million previously mentioned, the committee has also located an extra $1.45 million in funds related to other completed capital improvement projects. Notably, the committee identified 60 completed projects that have not seen expenditures since October 1, 2023, each with available funding below $100,000. Among these funds are those earmarked for EverBank Stadium upgrades that date back to 2003, raising questions about long-term financial planning and project prioritization within the city.
Chair of the committee, Ron Salem, plans to engage in further discussions regarding fund reallocations during the upcoming budget deliberations. While these fiscal reassessments are critical, they come against a backdrop of political friction; Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration has criticized the DOGE committee’s efforts as unnecessary duplication of her initiatives aimed at enhancing government efficiency.
As the committee continues its work, it faces scrutiny from various stakeholders. Some members of the City Council, including Jimmy Peluso, have voiced concerns regarding the committee’s all-Republican composition, suggesting it may have a partisan bias. Conversely, community reactions to the committee’s formation have ranged from skepticism about its purpose to support for its transparency initiatives aimed at improving city finances.
The committee’s forthcoming meetings are expected to delve deeper into the financial assessment, with the next session on May 20, and a comprehensive final report scheduled for release on June 23. Importantly, it has been noted that the committee will not assess the operational efficiency of key city departments such as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, limiting the scope of their financial review.
In conclusion, the Duval DOGE committee continues to uncover significant financial insights within Jacksonville’s budgetary allocations, and its ongoing investigations may lead to substantial fiscal changes that could reshape how city resources are managed in the years to come.
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Additional Resources
- Florida Politics: Jacksonville Bold for 5/7/25
- First Coast News: Duval DOGE Committee Finds Unused Funds
- Smart Cities Dive: Jacksonville Florida City Council Members DOGE Committee
- Jacksonville.com: Duval DOGE Committee Formed
- News4Jax: City Holding Special Committee Meeting on Duval DOGE
- Wikipedia: Jacksonville
- Google Search: Jacksonville budget
- Google Scholar: Jacksonville city finances
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Jacksonville, Florida
- Google News: Jacksonville Doge Committee
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
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