JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville city councilmembers are exploring the possibility of establishing a permanent oversight committee to enhance transparency and improve management of city funds, potentially replacing the current Duval DOGE committee.
RELATED: DOGE committee finds no evidence of telehealth contract fraud or misuse of city funds so far
Recommended Videos
Councilmember Ron Salem highlighted a recent proposal from Councilmember Rory Diamond.
“Councilman Diamond today came forward with an idea to maybe set up an oversight committee that would be a permanent committee of the council, and I think that’s an interesting proposal that we could definitely consider,” Salem said.
He said that the Duval DOGE committee is created by the city council president, so next year’s president must decide if they want to continue the committee or not.
The proposed permanent oversight committee would provide continuity and consistent oversight regardless of leadership changes.
Councilmember Raul Arias elaborated on the proposal’s intent to improve transparency and address concerns about the committee’s name.
Arias emphasized the importance of clear oversight for taxpayers.
“I would definitely be in support of it. I think keeping all oversight of the city dollars that way, the taxpayers have full transparency as to where they’re being used,” Arias said.
The permanent committee would also address the negative perceptions associated with the Duval DOGE name.
“I think on the national level, it got kind of a bad name, and we have been, I think we were much more thoughtful and incremental in our activities here at Jacksonville with Duval DOGE,” Salem said. “But I recognize that name does cause some heartburn with some people.”
Diamond is expected to follow up with legislation to establish the permanent oversight committee.