First they were out. Then they were in. Now they’re out again. But they could be back later.
A City Council committee changed the way independent authorities and constitutional officers would be handled under a proposed bill to create an Office of Inspector General.
Initially, the bill allowed for those groups to opt in for oversight from the office being created to look for fraud, waste and abuse in city government.
Later, the bill was amended when several council members believed those agencies and officers should be included, which would allow the inspector general to have review over all city functions.
Stephen Joost was one member Monday during the Rules Committee who said he thought the independent authorities and groups should be included. He specifically mentioned the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, which has close to half of the city’s $1 billion budget.
“We have got to work closely with them,” he said.
Assistant General Counsel Stephen Durden on Monday told the Rules Committee that council has budgetary, but not legislative control over those groups because of the way they have been established by state statutes.
But, allowing them to opt out is against the idea of consolidation, Joost said.
Council member Robin Lumb said he didn’t want that — instead he wanted to give them an opportunity to opt in.
Lumb has spearheaded the inspector general bill and said at this stage of the bill he had some misgivings about including the independents and constitutionals. Instead, he said there should be a way for them to opt in to the oversight while also funding some of the office. They should be included, he said, but there are legal problems that might preclude that at this point.
The opt in, Durden said, legally was a “much clearer path.”
The bill reverted Monday back to the original opt-in preference.
But that could change, too.
Council members will be seeking to amend the charter through a voter-approved referendum to include all the independent agencies and constitutional officers.
The independent authorities are the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, JEA, Jacksonville Transportation Authority and Jacksonville Port Authority. Boards for organizations like the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund are considered independent. And the constitutional officers are posts such as the Tax Collector, Supervisor of Elections and Property Appraiser.
The bill hires former Palm Beach County Inspector General Sheryl Steckler for an eight-month contract to establish Jacksonville’s office. She would serve in a consultancy role while helping create the infrastructure for the local office to get up and running.
The committee passed the bill by a 7-0 vote, with more discussion on the details slated today for the Finance Committee.
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