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A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

A writing teacher I had once told me the secret to character development. A character can be good or bad, but as long as he is verifiable, that is the secret to credible characterization. I look at Sam Mousa, Lenny Curry’s new Chief Administrative Officer in that sense. Some have said that he’s “recycled” from a […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

The next live blog of Wednesday’s Sam Mousa budget meetings: a discussion of the Mayor’s Office budget. Chris Hand and David DeCamp represent the Mayor’s Office. 4:10 p.m.: Sam Mousa and Chris Hand talk about how well the transition has gone thus far. 4:12 p.m.: Hand: “Ours is a budget made up entirely of people.” Less than 2.5 percent of the […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

New Lenny Curry Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa continues with his budget reviews. Next on tap: Jacksonville City Council. 3:26 p.m.: There is no city council revenue. Perhaps they can market trading cards? 3:27 p.m.: A slight increase in travel expenses. Liability insurance down. Not a lot going on in this budget. 3:28 p.m.: The starting salary is […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

New Lenny Curry Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa continues with yet another budget review, of the Jacksonville Downtown Investment Authority with Aundra Wallace. To read about Mousa’s appointment, click here. This was a lively session. 2:37 p.m.: A discussion of $14,000 revenue collected. Wallace doesn’t know where that money comes from. Rent from somewhere? Who knows. 2:39 p.m.: Salary […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

Next on Wednesday’s slate of Jacksonville budget reviews by the Lenny Curry transition team: Planning and Development. Sam Mousa, the new Chief Administrative Officer, leads the meeting as ever. 1:30 p.m.: The obligatory review of the high-level revenue and expenses numbers. Fees are up in almost all categories except platting fees. The need for platting has leveled. […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

In a move that surprises no one who has been watching the transition period, Jacksonville Mayor-elect Lenny Curry has selected Sam Mousa to be his chief administrative officer. “From the start of our transition process, I have been witness to Sam’s ability to get his arms around the budget challenges and financial disarray our city faces. […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

The afternoon slate of transition budget team leader Sam Mousa‘s budget meetings related to the Lenny Curry mayoral transition continues with the Ethics Office and Carla Miller. 1:17 p.m.: The usual review of the budget pages. No revenues and salaries are up $20,000 (a new employee). Pension contribution up $28,000. 1:21 p.m.: Mousa wants to know how […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

Wednesday’s slate of Jacksonville Transition Budget Reviews continues with the General Counsel and Military Affairs offices. 10:53 a.m.: The budget is pretty stable, except for one salary reduction. 10:56 a.m.: Talk of the Jacksonville Electric Authority having its own in-house legal charter. This would drop their demand for OGC services, but there will “always be […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

Next up on the Wednesday morning budget review docket: the Human Rights Commission. 10:34: There has been a reduction in staff. HRC is paid in a per case basis, so revenue goes down as staff goes down. They lost three people in the last budget cycle, as cap was reduced. Six employees on General Fund, and […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

Jon Heymann is here from the Jacksonville Children’s Commission for the Sam Mousa Transition Team Budget Review. 9:40: Fingerprinting costs removed. Rental of city facilities reduced. 9:44: A discussion of pension contributions. Health insurance and workers comp are both up. Elections of coverage are a driver. 9:47: Travel expenses are up $10K. Heymann says that he’s not […]

Tag: Sam Mousa

What Jacksonville can expect from Sam Mousa, Lenny Curry’s new CAO

Jax transition budget meeting: The Mayor’s Office

Jax transition budget meetings: City Council

Jax transition budget meetings: Downtown Investment Authority

Jax transition budget meetings: Planning and Development

Lenny Curry picks Sam Mousa as his chief administrative officer

Jax transition budget meetings: Ethics Office

Jax Transition Budget Review: General Counsel and Military Affairs

Jacksonville Transition Team Budget Review: Human Rights Commission

Jax Transition Budget Review: Children’s Commission