JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The City of Jacksonville failed to meet key grant requirements and lost a $1,000,000 state reimbursement for improvements to James Weldon Johnson Park, the Office of Inspector General said in a report released Tuesday.
The state awarded the funds to support demolition, redesign and initial construction of park improvements but denied reimbursement after finding a “severe lack of documentation,” missing progress reports and an untimely payment request, the report said.
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The city’s payment request was submitted Feb. 7, 2025 — 222 days after the grant expired on June 30, 2024, the report said.
The OIG review found the city did not submit required quarterly progress reports, a Final Report within one month of the grant’s end, or sufficient documentation of allowable expenditures through the Division of Arts and Culture’s DOS Grants portal, as required by the Grant Award Agreement.
The contract manager assigned to the project had not received formal training in grant or contract management, the review said, contributing to missed deadlines, confusion about deliverables and improper submission attempts, including emailing documents after being locked out of the state portal.
The OIG recommended the city adopt mandatory, standardized training for all personnel who manage grants or contracts, covering reporting obligations, documentation standards, expenditure eligibility and proper use of the DOS Grants portal.
The report (No. 2026-0027) says structured training is needed to reduce the risk of future financial loss and ensure compliance with state and federal requirements.
In a written response included with the report, city management outlined steps already taken or planned to improve grant oversight. Those steps include requiring formal, documented communications (letters, memos and meeting summaries) rather than relying on email or phone; completing training courses such as the National Recreation and Park Association’s Grant Success: From Application to Award and the U.S. Department of Education’s Discretionary Grants Administration and Allowable Costs and Activities; reviewing the state grants website and tutorial materials annually; entering Outlook calendar reminders for deadlines; and having department management review grant requirements annually.