Florida Expands Local Spending Audits Statewide

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia have announced mandatory state audits of local government spending, starting July 31 with Broward County and Gainesville. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established by executive order and state law, will perform on-site inspections, reviewing data systems, budgets, and spending on areas such as diversity and climate initiatives. DeSantis claims property tax collections in Broward have risen nearly 50% since 2020, surpassing population growth and indicating wasteful spending, while local officials dispute this characterization. Municipalities that do not comply with audit requests could be fined, and audit results may be used to support a proposed 2026 constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes. More than 75 cities and counties have volunteered for self-audits, but some, like Broward, have only complied with data requests. The audits are part of a statewide effort to increase transparency and potentially lower property taxes.