The Financial Audit and Oversight Select Committee rejected Council member Rahman Johnson’s request to rescind the subpoena at its Oct. 23 meeting. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers had delivered it to Ford the previous day.

Johnson argued that Ford should have had the chance to appear voluntarily, as the committee had allowed the former head of JEA to do. He said the investigation should include everyone involved, not just Ford, and invoked the principle that people are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Committee Chair Chris Miller said JTA budget requests submitted by agency departments were changed in the chief financial officer’s office. The committee also heard that JTA had underbudgeted labor, NAVI and paratransit costs. Three different chief financial officers oversaw the agency’s budgets during the years under review.

Council member Matt Carlucci said Ford’s testimony is needed for the inquiry to get answers. Council members have said they hope to speak with him by the end of the year. In a letter to council members, Ford thanked them for the opportunity to testify.

The financial questions carry direct consequences for JTA employees and riders. Agency officials have said its 2026-27 budget response includes about $24 million in savings from laying off roughly 200 employees, around $16 million from route and service reductions, and another $2 million in cuts whose details were not available at the meeting. The listed measures add up to about $42 million.

The announced reductions include cuts to routes and services such as NAVI and the Skyway. The committee’s investigation is intended to establish how the shortfall developed and how budget decisions were made.