JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville City Council Member Terrance Freeman is calling for a full audit of Mayor Donna Deegan’s European trip she went on as the Jacksonville Jaguars played an “away” game and a “home” game in the UK over two weeks.
The Mayor’s Office said Deegan was in London from October 12 to 15. She went to the Jaguars’ “away” game against the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 13. She was still in London on Oct. 15 for the NFL owners’ unanimous vote approving the Jags and city’s stadium renovations deal. On Oct. 16, she went to Italy for a personal trip.
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Freeman wants to know when the Mayor traveled on the taxpayer’s dime and when it stopped.
“As elected officials, we are entrusted to be good stewards of tax dollars. Any time we see questions raised — I think it’s fair and appropriate to have tough questions asked,” he told Action News Jax’s Robert Grant.
The Mayor left for her pre-planned vacation on October 16, missing the Jaguars’ London “home” game against the New England Patriots on October 20.
“Wow that really causes pause for taxpayers. Here’s another big opportunity on a big stage to represent our city and hopefully attract attention to our city in a positive light and you’re not there?” Freeman asked. “It really was a surprise to me to know that in the midst of those travels, a vacation was taken.”
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The Mayor’s Office told Action News Jax the only taxpayer expense was Deegan’s $2,978 hotel stay in her London hotel. She paid for her flight and meals on her own like she did last year, a representative said. The Mayor’s Office said Deegan’s trip to Italy was paid for on her own.
In a statement, the Mayor’s Office said, “Transparency is a priority for Mayor Deegan, and her travel for city business is a matter of public record. As such, this information will always be made available to the public regardless of who is requesting it.”
The statement went on to say, “The mayor was in London from October 12-15. She participated in the UK government’s International Investment Summit, met with multiple banking and fintech companies, met with the US Ambassador to the UK and embassy staff, and gave economic development interviews. All these efforts were geared to bring jobs and businesses back to Jacksonville.”
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She went overseas with JAXUSA, which said it knew her schedule when they were planning the agenda and set meetings on Monday and Tuesday.
Three other members of Deegan’s team were in London and her office said it cost a total of about $21,000. The expense for JAXUSA is still pending.
A spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office gave Action News Jax a statement with some additional information about these costs:
“$22k is city cost. JAXUSA is getting us some final expenses that the city will pay them back for.”
The Mayor’s Office said no city travel expenses were violated.
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