DOGE

Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said for every person who moved to Seminole County, the budget increased $5,402. For every family of four who moved there, the budget increased $21,608.

The DOGE committee is awaiting the results of a full state audit of the county's finances before taking any action. They say much of the spending was necessary to keep up with rapid population growth.

On "Live & Local, we explore Hillsborough County’s DOGE audit, New College’s rising costs, safety in houses of worship and the legacy of the trailblazing nurses for the Tuskegee Airmen.

Pensacola officials say no local tax dollars funded the city's welcome sign and that the Saenger Theatre turned a $1 million profit in three years, pushing back on Florida DOGE's audit as Gov. Ron DeSantis advances his plan to cut local spending and end property taxes.

“It should be noted that neither of the expenditures called out were funded by property taxes,” wrote Public Information Officer Samantha Bequer.

The theater is owned by the city and operated under contract by ASM Global, a national venue manager that books a range of touring productions.

Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia said the county's budget increases are hurting tax payers and exacerbating an affordability crisis.

Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia says the county's general fund jumped more than 56%, to nearly $860 million, since 2019. He used the audit to promote the governor's desire to cut property taxes.

The mayor and other city officials dispute Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia’s allegations, highlighting investments in police, fire and infrastructure as the city prepares to vote on its annual budget.

Following the accusation by Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia that the county was overtaxing residents, Mayor Jerry Demings called the CFO's math "fuzzy."

The statute would require the governor's annual budget recommendations to include cost-savings measures. The Legislature would be required to consider them.