spot_imgspot_img

Lawmakers scrutinize Gainesville over follow-up audit

(The Center Square) — The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met this week to follow up on an operational audit conducted by the Florida Auditor General to investigate potential sunshine law violations by the city of Gainesville.

The primary concern for the committee at a previous meeting held in Feb. 2023 was the debt the city has accrued, $1.7 billion, related to the Gainesville Regional Utilities.

Committee members were also concerned about certain transfers from the city’s utilities to the city’s general fund.

After Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law House Bill 1645 in June, the utility’s five-member board is now appointed by the governor and while the law says it operates a unit of city government, it also says the authority “is free from direction and control of the Gainesville City Commission.”

Committee Chair Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Boca Raton, stated that the transfers appeared to be based on the needs and wants of the city commission.

Derek Noonan, the Audit Manager of Local Government Reviews and Special Audits for the Florida Auditor General’s office, presented a follow-up report to the audit released in Jan. 2022.

Issues with the city’s debt weren’t the only problems found by auditors.

Noonan stated that the auditor general’s office had recommended more oversight and transparency for the city’s relationships with nonprofit organizations, namely Reichert House Youth Academy for at-risk youth.

The auditor general had found that the city did not effectively oversee or control the youth academy program operations, and Noonan stated the auditor general’s review of a previous youth academy audit showed some payments made to the nonprofit from the city weren’t obvious in why they had been made.

According to Committee Vice Chair Jason Pizzo, D-Hollywood, the nonprofit spends approximately $20,000 per client per year, over twice the amount spent per student in the public school system.

Noonan pointed out that instead of adding more oversight and transparency, the city severed ties with the organization and is no longer involved in its operations or funding. This also raised concerns for committee members.

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward stated that the city has done everything to reduce debt, including letting go of over 100 staff members, while several other officials had taken pay cuts.

Regarding the youth academy and lack of transparency, Ward noted that the payments were “between nonprofits that had been supportive of Reichert House but not payments to the City… We cannot compel nonprofits to give money to each other, or receive funds, to produce records that simply don’t exist,” Ward said.

Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland Beach, stated that she believes there have been violations of the Sunshine Law and filed a motion for the auditor general to conduct another analysis. The motion was adopted 6-4.

DON’T MISS OUT

Be the first to know about the latest news, giveaways, events, and updates from The Black Chronicle!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

spot_imgspot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

RNC sues Georgia counties over election integrity claims

(The Center Square) – The Republican National Committee sued...

Firm tied to voter registration ‘scheme’ goes dark

(The Center Square) – The media and consulting firm...

Saturday in the South for Harris, Trump

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump...

Washington state’s race-based home loan program faces federal lawsuit

(The Center Square) – Four months after the launch...

Illinois voters sounding off on three nonbinding questions

(The Center Square) – One of the three statewide...

Political realignment in 2024 has changed American politics

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump...

Major Wisconsin education spending proposed against backdrop of $4.6B surplus

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin State Superintendent Jill Underly...

More like this
Related

RNC sues Georgia counties over election integrity claims

(The Center Square) – The Republican National Committee sued...

Firm tied to voter registration ‘scheme’ goes dark

(The Center Square) – The media and consulting firm...

Saturday in the South for Harris, Trump

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump...

Washington state’s race-based home loan program faces federal lawsuit

(The Center Square) – Four months after the launch...