The growing pension concern in Jacksonville now has new counsel.

Mayor Alvin Brown has named Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Hyde as Counselor to the Mayor, a new title that Brown says comes with a focus on the city’s growing pension problem.

“We’re talking about pairing the most talented people with the most pressing challenges,” says Brown.

Deputy Chief Administrator Karen Bowling will take over as CAO for a salary of $210,000.

“I know she’s going to continue to do an impressive job to move our city forward and help the Mayor protect hardworking taxpayers while in her new role,” he says.

Cleveland Ferguson III will take over Bowling’s position.  He is an instructor as Florida Coastal School of Law and has served on the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.  Brown touts Ferguson’s experience in both the public and private sectors as reason he will fill the role well. His salary will be $135,000.

Today, Brown also named former Deputy General Counsel for the Florida Attorney General’s Office Alexis Lambert to manage the Office of Public Accountability.  The office aims to promote transparency in government.  She will earn a salary of $80,000.

Hyde’s new position as Counselor to the Mayor will cost taxpayers just $1 per year because of an executive-on-loan agreement, which is the same he earned this past year.