Duval DOGE committee finds more unused funds, increase in overtime spending

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It has been one full month since the City of Jacksonville’s Special Committee on Duval DOGE began looking into finances and efficiency within the city government. Since then, the committee has found nearly $18.5 million in unused funds for completed capital improvement projects.

During the committee’s Tuesday meeting, committee members also heard from the Office of the Inspector General. Committee members previously asked for more information on how city employees were using ‘P cards’ or purchasing cards. David Johnson, the deputy inspector general, said they looked into data over the last three years and determined there were 111 employees with these cards, and nearly 4.7 million was spent using them.

“Our general findings was there was no widespread abuse or fraud. We didn’t find any specific policy violations or fraud,” Johnson explained.

The committee also saw numbers relating to the amount of money city departments are spending on overtime. The council auditor’s office determined there was a $45,369,898 increase in overtime for general fund operating departments from fiscal year 2017-2018 to fiscal year 2023-2024.

The city’s parks department saw one of the largest increases, going $919,226 over budget last fiscal year. Council Auditor Kim Taylor explained this is because of an increase in the number of events and greater demand for city facilities.

Committee members asked about ways to cut down overtime spending, including hiring private security versus using officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at parks or libraries. Committee Chair Ron Salem said council members will need to further discuss ways to cut spending.

“Hopefully, during the budget process, we can have a much thorough discussion per department on the use of overtime. I’ve got my personal feelings how overtime should be used from the private sector, government’s a little bit different,” Salem said.

The committee also found an additional $1.45 million in unused funds for completed capital improvement projects. The auditor’s office identified 60 capital improvement projects with no expenditures since Oct. 1, 2023, and with less than $100,000 in available funding that can be closed out, including money earmarked for upgrades to EverBank Stadium dating back to 2003.

Salem said the roughly $18.5 million in unused funds can go back to the city.

“It can be moved to other capital improvement projects and if the project was paid for by cash or paygo, as we call it, that money can go back into the general fund, in the reserves or anywhere else,” Salem explained.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan’s office released a statement following Tuesday’s meeting, criticizing the DOGE committee: 

“The Deegan administration has been working for over a year and a half to close out dozens of completed capital projects that are still on the books. These significant cost savings have already been realized. Once again, the DOGE committee is playing catch-up, engaging in a performative and duplicative action while Mayor Deegan has been leading since Day One on government efficiency.”

The next meeting is set for May 20, with the final report expected June 23.