JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two weeks ago, the News4JAX I-TEAM revealed that four JEA executives live and work out of state and aren’t regulars at the new $100 million headquarters the city-owned utility opened last year downtown.
On Wednesday, JEA said one of them, the Tennessee-based chief strategy officer who was making nearly $400,000 a year, was resigning.
The Jacksonville City Council President and the chair of the JEA board both said Thursday they think it’s best to have employees here live in the area they serve.
JEA said the Tennessee-based executive, Laura Dutton, chose to resign but a spokesperson would not answer whether she was given the option to stay in her role.
Dutton was hired as JEA’s Chief Strategy Officer in 2021 at a salary of $275,000, but by 2024, her salary had grown to nearly $384,000.
But now, she’s stepping down and a JEA spokesperson said her responsibilities will be shared for now by the utility’s five other chief executives. JEA said it’s not yet sure if it will be searching for a new strategy chief.
Three other executives who live out of the area will remain in their roles and continue to work according to the company’s “Work Where We Work Best” policy, JEA said. Of those, Dutton was the highest paid and received the biggest raise this year. The others are making between about $225,000 and $250,000.
RELATED: JEA executives got big pay raises last year
News4JAX asked City Council President Ron Salem for his reaction to the news and if he thinks the executives should be allowed to work and live out of town.
“That’s up to the CEO and the board. But I’m of the philosophy that executives ought to be able to come in to work on a routine basis,” Salem said.
JEA CEO Jay Stowe was asked about executives living out of state at a utility board meeting Tuesday and he said it’s about hiring the best talent.
A spokesperson for JEA said Stowe determines raises for his direct resorts, like Dutton, who received a 23% raise last year worth $73,000. Stowe also received a $75,000 raise, bringing his salary to $669,510. Top executives got big raises relative to other employees, News4JAX found.
On Wednesday, JEA said in a statement Dutton would be resigning and added that “Laura worked very hard to build capacity and solve problems. We appreciate her dedication to our mission and values and wish her the best as she explores opportunities closer to her home.”
JEA Board Chair Bobby Stein addressed Dutton’s resignation on Thursday.
“It’s a situation that’s her decision and I have no other comment,” Stein said.
“Do you know if she was pressured to resign?” News4JAX asked.
“That’s something that Jay Stowe was very aware of,” Stein said. “That’s his decision.”
Stein also addressed the recent headlines involving JEA, including the ongoing federal trial of two former executives and a looming rate hike tied to billions in overages during the construction of Plant Vogtle.
“I think our balance sheet is one of the strongest in the country, our rates are some of the lowest in the country. There are things we need to work on. You know, I think JD Powers gave us I think the best in the Southeast, as far as service. So as far as those situations are concerned, I think we do a very good job. Like any organization, we have a lot of work to be done. And the reason is we want to be best in class,” Stein said.