Mayor Donna Deegan has dismissed any attempt to reintroduce tolls on Jacksonville roadways following a City Council session in which JTA officials mentioned the idea in a historical context. Deegan issued a statement saying she would oppose any effort by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to bring back tolls, describing the proposal as a non‑starter and emphasizing that the city has already rejected such fees. The mayor’s office said the agency must first address a $39 million operating deficit before considering new revenue measures, and it called for the board to “get the fiscal house in order.”

JTA interim chief executive officer Cleveland Ferguson III clarified that he did not propose or advocate for reinstating bridge tolls; he merely noted that tolling remains a dormant capability under the agency’s authorizing statute and referenced it as part of the organization’s past role as an expressway authority. The clarification came after reports that the possibility of tolls had been discussed during the Financial Audit and Oversight Committee meeting.

The JTA is currently confronting a series of challenges. Attorney General James Uthmeier has opened an investigation into the authority, issuing a subpoena to Ferguson for records related to tuition reimbursements and internal management communications. The probe follows the agency’s announcement of 194 layoffs aimed at closing the budget gap. In addition, the JTA plans to pause its Skyway elevated people mover on November 2 and its autonomous NAVI vehicle service on December 31, while also restructuring bus routes, including adjustments to the First Coast Flyer rapid transit system.

Ferguson, appointed interim CEO in late August after former CEO Nat Ford resigned to lead the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, has said the agency will cooperate fully with the investigation. The subpoena requests documents from October 1, 2023, through October 21, 2025, with potential extensions into 2026. The authority is also examining its relationship with a development firm that has done business with JTA, including connections between Ford, his spouse, and the firm.

Deegan’s executive order, issued this week, encourages Jacksonville board appointees to obtain financial training and signals that the City Council may codify those recommendations. The mayor’s stance reflects a broader sentiment among local officials that tolls are not a viable solution to the agency’s fiscal problems, and that alternative approaches must be pursued to stabilize the JTA’s finances.