FLDOGE Audit Targets Florida Blue Counties for Fiscal Accountability
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and State CFO Blaise Ingoglia have launched a fiscal oversight initiative by dispatching teams from the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (FLDOGE) to scrutinize budgetary practices in two prominent blue counties, Broward and Alachua. The move comes amid allegations of ballooning budgets and rising local taxes, with FLDOGE accusing these areas of mismanagement and over-spending. DeSantis has emphasized Florida’s reputation as a model for fiscal responsibility, framing the audit as a necessary step to ensure local governments align with state standards. The investigation, which includes an examination of property and sales taxes in Broward County, also highlights the potential for similar reviews to expand across Florida’s most populous counties.
FLDOGE alleged that residents of Broward County—anchored by Fort Lauderdale—have seen an additional $450 million in ad valorem taxes entering the county government. The agency cited a $1.2 billion expansion in Broward’s operating budget over a period marked by a mere 5% population increase. In contrast, Gainesville’s projected annual expenditure is set to exceed its four-year prior levels by $90 million, according to DeSantis. This rise in spending is partially attributed to increasing property taxes, which have climbed by 85% since 2020, although some of the increase is attributed to rising real estate values in Florida, drawing a significant influx of northeasterners escaping high-tax states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.
Ingoglia, who was previously a state senator for Hernando County and the Suncoast, described the operation as part of a ‘new era of transparency and accountability.’ He criticized past local spending that taxpayers might not support if fully revealed. Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward confirmed the city’s cooperation with FLDOGE officials, stating that the city provided ‘all the information they could possibly need to review the excellent work of our city for the past several years.’ Ward highlighted historic improvements in crime and pedestrian safety, as well as growth in affordable housing, as key achievements. He also emphasized the city’s own belt-tightening efforts, including debt reduction, the elimination of 160 staff positions, and improved municipal credit ratings.
Meanwhile, Broward County Mayor Beam Furr expressed skepticism about the FLDOGE’s demands, noting that as a ‘home rule’ county, Broward reserves the right to refuse forced reallocation of state resources. Furr criticized the additional manpower required to upload and review thousands of pages of documentation in response to FLDOGE’s inquiries. He also questioned FLDOGE’s focus on the Green New Deal, stating that his office has never adopted the far-left framework promoted by Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. However, Furr acknowledged climate change as a pressing issue for Fort Lauderdale, which sits close to sea level. FLDOGE indicated that several other jurisdictions are under audit, with potential follow-ups in Orange, Hillsborough, and Pinellas counties, which include major cities like Orlando, Tampa, and St. Petersburg.