The abrupt removal of Megan Hayward from the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) Board of Directors has amplified concerns about transparency, ethical governance, and political retaliation under Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration. Hayward’s ouster came just days after she raised serious questions regarding JTA’s financial and operational practices—questions that remain unanswered.

Discrepancies in Ridership Reporting Spark Alarm

At the February 27, 2025, JTA board meeting—just two days after Mayor Deegan initiated her removal—Hayward publicly questioned major discrepancies in JTA’s ridership numbers. She pointed out that the figures reported internally to the board differed significantly—by roughly 2,000 riders—from those submitted to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), discrepancies that could affect the agency’s state and federal funding.

“These numbers aren’t off by 10 or 20 riders; they are off by thousands,” Hayward warned, noting the serious risk that inaccurate figures could trigger federal penalties or funding clawbacks.

Although JTA CEO Nat Ford promised an internal investigation, no formal resolution or public explanation has been provided. Hayward’s abrupt removal left the board—and the public—without answers.

Ethical Concerns Over $60,000 Contribution to JAXUSA Partnership

Hayward also raised red flags over a $60,000 JTA contribution to JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development arm of the JAX Chamber, where JTA Vice Chair Aundra Wallace serves as president. The payment, ambiguously categorized as an “investment,” was not listed as a line item in JTA’s budget.

While JTA’s legal counsel asserted that no private gain occurred, Hayward pointed to a deeper concern: the erosion of public trust when officials operate in gray areas where impropriety, even if technically legal, appears likely. She called for an independent audit—another request that was ignored.

Timing of Removal: Retaliation or Coincidence?

Mayor Deegan submitted legislation to remove Hayward on February 25, 2025, appointing former City Council President Elaine Brown in her place. The timing—just before Hayward’s public questioning of JTA operations—raises serious doubts about the administration’s motives.

Under Chapter 349 of Florida Statutes, JTA board members serve staggered terms, with Council confirmation required. Deegan’s legislation, co-sponsored by Councilmembers Wilson, Ju'Coby Pittman, and Rahman Johnson (himself a JTA board member), sailed through the City Council 19–0 on April 8, 2025, without meaningful debate or review of the concerns Hayward raised.

Tuition Reimbursement Disparities: Executives Over Employees?

At what would become her final JTA board meeting, Hayward also exposed troubling inconsistencies in the agency’s tuition reimbursement program. She alleged that while hourly staff were capped at $5,250 annually, executives received unlimited tuition subsidies—sometimes up to $80,000 for a single Ph.D.—without any clear guidelines or written policies.

Hayward argued this practice could violate IRS regulations, which prohibit educational assistance programs that favor highly compensated employees. Yet again, no corrective action or explanation was offered by JTA leadership or the Mayor’s Office.

A Broader Pattern of Questionable Governance?

Hayward’s removal is not an isolated incident. It mirrors broader concerns about the Deegan administration’s approach to transparency and public accountability, including controversial dealings surrounding the University of Florida campus land swap with Gateway Jax.

The pattern is clear: rushed decisions, unresolved conflicts of interest, and sidelining those who ask hard questions. Hayward, a certified public accountant and former Treasury official who served as JTA Treasurer, demonstrated a professional, diligent commitment to oversight. Her forced removal sends a chilling message to others: questioning the status quo can cost you your seat at the table.

Jacksonville Deserves Answers

Jacksonville taxpayers deserve more than political expediency—they deserve transparency and accountability in the management of public agencies like JTA. Before replacing Hayward, City Council should have demanded:

• A forensic audit of JTA’s ridership reporting.

• A review of all financial contributions and sponsorships involving board members’ employers.

• An investigation into tuition reimbursement practices to ensure compliance with federal law and ethical standards.

Instead, Councilmembers chose political convenience over public trust, rubber-stamping Hayward’s removal without debate.

Who Is Megan Hayward?

Hayward was appointed to the JTA Board of Directors by Mayor Donna Deegan at the start of her term, alongside JEA Diversity Program Manager Patricia Gillum Sams. JTA leadership praised their experience and anticipated they would strengthen the agency’s oversight.

Hayward brought to the board significant experience from the staffing industry, having launched her own staffing agency at 24. She also holds ownership stakes in professional hockey organizations including the Jacksonville Icemen, Savannah Ghost Pirates, and Allen Americans, and serves on the boards of the Women’s Center of Jacksonville and the DuBlasé Foundation. Hayward earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of North Florida and currently serves as CEO and founder of TAG (Temporary Assistance Guru), a Jacksonville-based tech platform streamlining the staffing and hiring process.

Megan Hayward will undoubtedly continue to succeed. However, the manner of her removal from the JTA Board—without answers to the serious concerns she raised—is a disheartening reflection on the Deegan administration’s approach to governance.