Responding to questions from a former Jacksonville Transportation Authority board member as to whether the organization’s tuition reimbursement policy unfairly favored executives over staff and could violate federal tax law, the JTA’s general counsel said April 15 that he reviewed the policy and found “nothing unusual or inappropriate” about it.
General Counsel Richard Milian said he reviewed the policy based on questions from board member Megan Hayward, who raised them during the March 27 board meeting.
Milian told board members that the policy is to provide up to $5,250 in reimbursement tuition annually to full-time JTA employees who have been with the organization at least a year for courses that are relevant to the JTA’s mission and the employee’s job.
There also is a requirement for employees to pay back the reimbursement if they leave JTA within a year of receiving it.
In addition, Milian said JTA’s CEO is allowed to offer tailored reimbursement policies as part of negotiations with certain prospective employees. He said those policies would cover a “unique, special skill” that is important to the JTA, such as expertise in cybersecurity or autonomous technology.
The ability for the CEO to negotiate reimbursement falls under his or her authority to hire and fire staff and set compensation, Milian said.
Nat Ford is JTA CEO.
Hayward asserted that the policy allowed for full reimbursement of executives without a dollar limit and questioned whether that provision violated an IRS code capping assistance at $5,250, saying plans “shall not discriminate in favor of highly compensated employees.”
Hayward’s questions came in her last meeting as a board member. Under legislation requested by Mayor Donna Deegan’s office, the Jacksonville City Council voted April 8 to replace her midterm by Elaine Brown, a former Jacksonville City Council president and Neptune Beach mayor.
Hayward was appointed to a partial first term in 2023 that was scheduled to expire in May 2025, followed automatically by a full four-year term.
In a written statement, Deegan said her goal in nominating Brown was to “align board membership with background and experience to move city priorities forward.” She said the timing was related to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent appointments of Max Glober and Donald “Donnie” Horner III.