State officials are continuing their push to reduce or eliminate property taxes by highlighting what they call "wasteful spending."
The latest example came Thursday, when Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said an audit showed Manatee County spent $112 million more than it should during the last fiscal year. That included needed increases for public safety.
Ingoglia, during a news conference Thursday, said Manatee's spending was the "largest we have seen so far as we're doing these calculations."
"In just five years, the local general fund budget has increased $269 million," he said. "That is an increase in their budget in just five years of 69%."
The audits are being conducted by the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created in February by Gov. Ron DeSantis to "identify and eliminate unnecessary spending, maximize efficiency and improve fiscal stewardship."
They are also part of the administration's drive to reduce or eliminate property taxes, which is where most counties and cities get their money.
Manatee is one of seven local governments targeted by the state's his audits. Others include Orange County, Hillsborough County, Broward County and the city of Jacksonville.
Manatee's accounting is part of a broader statewide trend of overspending, the CFO said.
Ingoglia said the DOGE audits have found over $1 billion dollars in “wasteful, excessive spending” in their current budgets.
"That is $1 billion that belong in the hands of you, the taxpayers, and not in the hands of government," Ingoglia said. "That is $1 billion of property tax cuts they could have given you this year and could have easily done that in our opinion with zero cuts to services."
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County spokeswoman Stephanie Garrison said officials have been actively looking at spending.
"We were not previously aware of the details released by the chief financial officer ... but we welcome the opportunity to review the findings and better understand the analysis," she said. "In fact, Manatee County recently established a citizen-led Government Efficiency Liaison Committee, which is dedicated to reviewing spending, streamlining operations and reducing waste."
The committee's next meeting is Oct. 28.
The audits come as the Florida House has unveiled a list of proposals aimed at reducing the state's property tax.
Any reductions would ultimately have to be approved by voters during the 2026 elections. Property taxes fund local governments, which have expressed concerns about their ability to provide critical services if cuts are made.
