Local Leaders Critique CFO Ingoglia’s County Spending Audits at Florida Legislative Conference

TAMPA — Local Leaders Push Back Against State CFO’s Spending Audits

At the Florida Association of Counties 2025 legislative conference in Tampa on November 19, two seasoned former state lawmakers, now serving as county commissioners, voiced strong skepticism regarding recent audits of county spending conducted by Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia.

Since his appointment by Governor Ron DeSantis in July, Ingoglia has been vocal about alleged overspending in various counties, using press conferences as a platform to promote his agenda. His efforts are part of a broader initiative by the rebranded Florida Agency For Fiscal Oversight (FAFO), which aims to highlight what he describes as wasteful spending in local governments.

“This whole thing is a made-for-television event, specifically designed for the CFO’s reelection,” Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine remarked during the conference. He and Broward County Commissioner Steven Geller exchanged insights on the FAFO audits, both expressing doubts about the accuracy of Ingoglia’s claims.

Geller, who has a two-decade history in the Legislature, criticized the CFO’s assertion that Broward County had engaged in $189 million of “wasteful spending” over the past five years. “Check the numbers,” he urged. “They are fictitious. Made-up. Phony. False.”

Constantine echoed these sentiments, questioning the validity of the figures presented by Ingoglia’s office. He noted that when pressed for specific examples of alleged waste during a press conference, Ingoglia was unable to provide concrete evidence. “Just give us one example. Just one,” Constantine challenged.

The scrutiny from Ingoglia’s office has not only drawn criticism from local leaders but has also raised eyebrows among other local governments subjected to FAFO audits. While the CFO has promised to provide more details, many remain unconvinced of the accuracy of his claims.

In a statement released by the governor’s office, ten examples of alleged overspending were highlighted, including a controversial $75,000 hologram of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan at the airport. Deegan defended the expenditure, emphasizing the importance of innovative marketing for tourism.

The backdrop to these audits is a recent decision by the Seminole County Commission to increase the property tax rate for the first time in 16 years, a move that has been met with mixed reactions. Constantine defended the increase, citing a $35 million budget deficit, and noted that the commission had reached out to Ingoglia for clarification on his claims but received no immediate response.

“Crickets,” he quipped, highlighting the lack of engagement from the CFO’s office.

In response to the audits, Seminole County released a statement asserting that the CFO’s model overlooked over $120 million in state-mandated services. Constantine revealed that local citizens were not swayed by the CFO’s claims; instead, the scrutiny had prompted more informed discussions about the necessity of the tax increase.

When asked for advice for other counties facing similar audits, Geller emphasized the importance of transparency with voters. “You have to start attacking those numbers,” he said, urging local governments to communicate effectively with their constituents.

Constantine added that direct responses to the CFO’s office may be futile. “They’re not going to apologize. They’re not going to change their mind,” he said. Instead, he advocated for a focus on educating citizens about local spending and the rationale behind budget decisions.

In a statement from Ingoglia’s office, Communications Director Sydney Booker reiterated the CFO’s commitment to holding local governments accountable. “The CFO’s message to these big government apologists is clear: Stop lying to the taxpayers and stop wasting money to the tune of tens of hundreds of millions of dollars each year,” Booker stated.

As the debate continues, local leaders remain steadfast in their commitment to transparency and accountability, pushing back against what they perceive as politically motivated attacks on their governance.