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State Attorney Subpoenas Jacksonville Housing Authority Over Finances, No-Bid Contracts, and Fired CEO's Developer Fee Plan
The State Attorney's Office has ordered the Jacksonville Housing Authority to turn over records on financial shortfalls, depleted reserves, no-bid contracts, and a proposed 12% developer fee for its recently fired CEO. The subpoena also seeks records on alleged retaliation against employees who raised concerns and on the agency's nearly $90,000 quote to fulfill a public records request.
JACKSONVILLE â The State Attorney's Office has issued a subpoena to the Jacksonville Housing Authority, demanding a broad set of records about the agency's finances, procurement practices, and the dealings of its recently fired chief executive, according to documents obtained by local reporters.
The subpoena, which gives the authority until November 20 to comply, seeks information on financial shortfalls, depleted reserves, and the use of restricted housing funds. Prosecutors are also examining no-bid contracts and potential conflicts of interest, as well as allegations that employees who raised financial or procurement concerns faced retaliation.
The inquiry reaches into the tenure of former CEO Cheron Corbett Waller, who was fired by the JHA board two weeks ago following controversy over a proposed compensation plan tied to developer fees. The subpoena orders the authority to produce records about that plan, including how much Waller could have received if the board had approved it, along with her communications with board members.
The board rejected Waller's proposal to take a 12% developer fee as part of her compensation, a plan that drew scrutiny over how public housing funds would be used.
Prosecutors also flagged a separate matter: a public records request filed in April 2025 concerning delayed vendor payments. The housing authority quoted nearly $90,000 to fulfill that request, a figure that has itself become part of the State Attorney's review.
The subpoena does not accuse anyone of wrongdoing, and no charges have been announced. But the scope of the records sought signals that investigators are looking closely at how the authority manages money meant for low-income housing residents and whether internal concerns were suppressed.
The Jacksonville Housing Authority has not publicly commented on the subpoena. The agency is required to deliver the records by November 20.
The investigation comes as the authority faces broader questions about its stewardship of public funds. Housing authorities across Florida operate with limited oversight, and advocates for affordable housing have long warned that financial mismanagement can delay repairs, displace residents, and erode trust in the agencies meant to serve them.
For Jacksonville residents who depend on the housing authority, the outcome of the inquiry could shape everything from waitlist times to the condition of their homes. Community groups have called for transparency and for the board to cooperate fully with prosecutors.
The State Attorney's Office has not indicated when its review might conclude.