Randall Barnes, the former treasurer for the city of Jacksonville and JEA, has returned to the city to work as the chief financial officer for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.
Barnes, who last worked for JEA in 2024, spent the last two years as the director of finance, rates and treasury at electricity utility company Georgia Transmission.
“After only one week and having had the opportunity to meet and talk with so many dedicated JTA employees, I am emboldened by my decision to come back to Jax,” Barnes wrote in a LinkedIn post. “There are challenges to overcome, but my heart is full. JTA employees understand that we are here to serve, and I am confident that … together … we will prevail.”
Barnes, who first started working for the city in 2018, replaces Raj Srinath as CFO. Srinath left JTA in June 2025 and began a consulting firm, RJSR Consulting. A JTA spokesperson said Srinath would be “on call” during the transition to Barnes’ role, and Srinath was in attendance at JTA’s July 29 board meeting.
According to industry publication TrainsPro, Srinath was named a finalist for the top job with South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, though he was not given the position. Srinath came to Jacksonville by way of Atlanta, where he worked as MARTA’s CFO for three years.
Barnes begins overseeing JTA’s finances as the authority deals with budget deficits and delinquent bills.
JTA suffered a $14.2 million budget deficit in fiscal year 2026 and had a projected deficit of $17.5 million in fiscal year 2027.
To respond to the budget shortfall, JTA’s board approved the elimination of five bus routes, reduced the frequency of four bus routes and made more cuts while increasing some bus fares for FY27, though the budget still had a projected deficit of $2.31 million, which would need to be cut via administrative reductions.
Based on a response to a records request, the Daily Record also reported that JTA has $15.06 million worth of delinquent bills on its books.
The records showed JTA’s unpaid bills are at their highest level of the calendar year. In response to questions about the bills, the independent authority confirmed the amount was $15.06 million and said it had taken steps to pay them in two months.
The delinquencies date to 2014, according to records, which break down the debt several ways. Of the total, $4.62 million is more than 60 days past due, $4.86 million is 31 to 60 days past due and $5.58 million is one to 30 days past due.
Barnes also enters JTA as the authority prepares to deal with the departure of CEO Nat Ford, who is scheduled to become CEO of Dallas Area Rapid Transit on Oct. 26. During a July 29 meeting, JTA board members began the process to replace Ford, which is not expected to be completed until March 2027, according to JTA’s outside general counsel, Richard Milian.