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(Miami, FL) - Florida's new Chief Financial Officer joined the governor in announcing a new era of accountability in local government spending starting with Broward County.
Both the CFO, Blaise Ingoglia and Governor DeSantis decried "out-of--control spending and DOGE non-compliance" by Broward government leaders.
"They treat tax revenue like an endless pot of money." said Ingoglia. The governor explained that the audits will review how local governments spend money. He says he is targeting places where taxpayers have complained about wasteful spending.
The CFO says the Florida DOGE Taskforce will audit agencies, local governments and universities that have refused to work with Florida's department of government efficiency. The governor says the audits are now required by law and local governments must cooperate or face a thousand dollar per day fine.
"They will be using the authority that I mentioned to conduct reviews of the data systems, physical premises and personnel, of counties and cities that have thus far refused to cooperate with us to identify and report on any excessive spending patterns," DeSantis said.
Starting July 31st, Broward will be the first local government to go under the DOGE microscope. Next stop, Gainesville.
DeSantis accused Broward of raising property taxes by nearly 50% since 2020, even though its population reportedly grew by less than 5%.
"And so, we're here in Broward County, and I think most people know there's some criticism of how the county government has operated."