On notice: Gov. DeSantis, Blaise Ingoglia begin push for local audits in Democratic-controlled areas

Image via Colin Hackley.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and his “warrior” Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia are taking their Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) show on the road.

Appearing in Fort Lauderdale and Gainesville, the Governor and his latest appointment rolled out probes starting July 31 on pay, contracts and socially progressive policies taking taxpayer funds.

DeSantis noted in Broward that this swing to announce “on-site inspections and audits” of local and county governments was part of the “DOGE’ing of local government” and an effort to look at “problems in local governments” amid “complaints” he has heard.

At both stops, DeSantis promised changes.

In Gainesville, he joked that left-leaning Zohran Mamdani, a New York mayoral candidate, “probably could get elected” in the liberal college town. DeSantis then pointed out purportedly profligate spending that will be spotted by “real auditors on the ground” in a “thorough review.”

Gainesville has increased its operating budget by $90 million a year off the strength of an 86% ad valorem increase since 2020, DeSantis said.

He noted in Fort Lauderdale that “taxpayers here in Broward have watched their county government (increase) property tax burdens by the tune of $450 million in addition to ad valorem collections. So that’s an increase of close to 50%, just since 2020.”

DeSantis also noted that both places spent heavily on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and the “Green New Deal.”

“They even did, I think it was, was it $800,000 for the Rose Bowl? They did a float in the Rose Bowl. The County Administrator here makes almost half a million dollars a year. So there’s a lot of things that really deserve scrutiny,” he said in Broward.

This is the beginning of a series of similar announcements regarding jurisdictions that didn’t participate voluntarily, according to the Governor.

“There is a new era of accountability in Florida when it comes to wasteful spending,” Ingoglia added, saying Broward’s free-spending ways have put taxpayers in a “crunch.”