Jacksonville Mayor subpoenaed in JTA investigation

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan has been subpoenaed as part of a state attorney general investigation into the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). The investigation follows a $39 million budget shortfall within the regional agency.

The subpoena focuses on documents and communications from early March 2025, specifically regarding a meeting between Deegan and former JTA board member Megan Hayward. Hayward, who was replaced by Deegan on the board shortly after the meeting, claims she warned the mayor about the agency’s financial instability. Deegan has denied these claims, stating her personal notes from the meeting show no indication that the organization was in crisis.

The prosecutor has requested handwritten notes, emails, text messages, and meeting recordings from the period of March 1 to March 10, 2025. Deegan is scheduled to appear before the prosecutor on October 20.

In a related development, Mayor Deegan signed an executive order encouraging enhanced financial, governance, and audit training for members of Jacksonville’s various boards, commissions, and independent authorities. The order aims to strengthen standards for vetting and appointing board members to ensure better oversight of public assets.