Mayor seeks to improve oversight of nonprofit funding

A proposal that would strengthen oversight of how the city funds nonprofit organizations is ready for review by the Jacksonville City Council.

The legislation, filed Monday by the administration of Mayor Donna Deegan, would amend a city ordinance that governs how nonprofit organizations get funding.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Deegan said the bill would identify any public official with connections to an organization seeking funding — whether it’s her, City Council or spouses or children.

If there are no connections, the request would go on to normal committee and council action. But if there were a connection, a public notice of the award would be published so that other nonprofits can submit a proposal for the same service, Deegan said.

Any waiver of these requirements would require approval from two-thirds of the City Council.

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If the city needs to move fast on a nonprofit funding bill, or if there is only one agency that can deliver a service, the new bill does not prevent that from happening, the mayor said.

“What it does is raise the bar by requiring a two-thirds vote of the council instead of a simple majority to waive the requirements,” Deegan said. “So before you ask, because I know you will, let me be clear — this is not a response to any instance from the past. I see it as living up to Jacksonville’s history as a leader in transparency.”

The bill heads to City Council after the Mayor’s Budget Review Committee recommended it.

Deegan said the administration has been considering the bill for a few months. Despite some council opposition on other administration efforts, Deegan said she expects this bill to get enough bipartisan support to pass.

“Everybody seems very, very supportive of this bill,” Deegan said. “I think it takes the pressure off. And for council members who have an affiliation, or for these nonprofits who will be filing an affidavit to present the information, I think it removes any sort of cloud that might hang over things when these things are just waived and they go through council.”

The new bill will not prevent a nonprofit agency from getting funding, Deegan said. It simply “shines a brighter light on exactly what those relationships are,” and it asks the City Council to take a good look at the request, she said. That could be a better situation for the nonprofits, Deegan said.