Council Auditor Kim Taylor delivered a detailed quarterly summary to the Finance Committee on Jan. 6, stressing the figures were unaudited and subject to year‑end adjustments. "These are unaudited numbers, the books are not closed yet," Taylor said, warning that a reported $92 million favorable variance does not directly add to operating reserves because many favorable variances are carryforwards into the next fiscal year.

Taylor outlined that the unaudited accounting snapshot would translate — after adjustments and appropriations — to an estimated $33.6 million increase in operating reserves (to about $425.7 million) before commitments, and that roughly $29.5 million of that growth had already been appropriated for contingencies and development deals, leaving roughly a $396 million operating reserve under the snapshot estimate.

On city funds, Taylor noted the solid waste disposal fund produced roughly $5.7 million in additional revenues that would reduce a loan balance, and the self‑insurance fund showed about $33.2 million favorable variance before a $7.3 million adjustment (leaving roughly $26M excess reserves). Taylor cautioned that methodological changes to actuarial assumptions for workers' compensation could change future budget projections.

Taylor also reported independent authorities: JEA and JAA posted year‑end surpluses, but JTA (Jacksonville Transportation Authority) faces an approximate $19 million net overrun. Taylor said roughly half of the JTA overage stems from the Connection paratransit service and the remainder largely from bus division operational costs, including about $7 million in operational costs tied to a Navi contract. Committee members pressed for follow‑up detail and a budget amendment from JTA.

What’s next: Staff will file the finance committee’s resolution and follow up with JTA for a budget amendment; auditors offered to provide additional detail on department variances and the self‑insurance methodology in subsequent briefings.