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'Extreme Ownership' training costs questioned by residents; council urged to disclose total expense
Summary
Multiple residents and public commenters told council FOIA responses indicate the city has spent hundreds of thousands on the 'Extreme Ownership' program and asked for a full accounting of training fees and travel expenses; council members acknowledged the concern but did not produce a consolidated total at the meeting.
Several residents used the citizen-comment portion of the Jan. 27 meeting to press Jackson City Council for a complete accounting of what the city has spent on an "Extreme Ownership" training program.
Gina Hastings (1231 Highland Blvd.) said FOIA responses indicate "several $100,000" in travel and training expenditures and asked council to direct staff to release a consolidated figure for fees, travel and hotel costs. "When hundreds of thousands of dollars are involved, taxpayers shouldn't have to piece together partial information or face high barriers to get the full picture," Hastings said.
Other speakers echoed the demand. Rosemary Tanner told the council FOIA showed the city has spent "well over $500,000" on the program and called the spending "misguided," comparing it to unmet needs for roads and public safety. William Hastings noted lower-cost remote options the program sells ($350–$600 per employee) and questioned why the city would incur far larger sums for in-person sessions.
Neither staff nor the council provided a single consolidated total at the meeting; councilors acknowledged the public concern and referenced prior FOIA responses. No formal action or directive to compile and publish a total was recorded in the meeting minutes; the matter remains a public request for further transparency.
