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Governor Ron DeSantis and newly appointed Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia have set their sights on auditing Manatee County as part of their initiative to identify wasteful spending. This announcement was made during a recent press conference held at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, located just half a mile from the Manatee County Administration Building.
Manatee County has caught state officials’ attention due to an 86% increase in property tax receipts over the past six years, amounting to an additional $213 million, as noted by DeSantis. While he acknowledged that Manatee has “admirably” lowered its millage rates for residents, the audit comes amidst increased scrutiny on local government spending.
Florida Politics reached out to Manatee County Administrator Charlie Bishop but has yet to receive a response regarding the audit. Earlier this week, DeSantis and Ingoglia also announced probes in Gainesville and Broward County aimed at scrutinizing pay, contracts, and socially progressive taxpayer-funded policies, following the Legislature granting the Governor’s administration expanded audit powers this year.
Ingoglia addressed concerns about potential biases in the audit process, stating, “The question I’ve seen on social media and for some in the liberal media, was, ‘Are you only going to audit those just blue counties and blue cities?’” He emphasized that as a fiscal watchdog, the political affiliation of a county or city doesn’t matter as long as spending exceeds reasonable limits.
Continuing his advocacy for fiscal reform, DeSantis has been increasingly vocal about the need to eliminate property taxes—a move that critics argue could threaten vital municipal services. Additionally, there are concerns that the focus on property tax cuts neglects pressing issues such as rising property insurance costs affecting residents’ financial stability.
Key Information
- Target Area: Manatee County
- Key Figures: Gov. Ron DeSantis, CFO Blaise Ingoglia, County Administrator Charlie Bishop
- Property Tax Increase: 86% over the last six years
- Reason for Audit: Identification of wasteful spending and fiscal scrutiny
- Context: Expanded audit powers granted to the Governor’s administration by the Legislature
- Concerns: Potential elimination of critical municipal services if property taxes are cut
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Article original publish date: 2025-07-24 07:00:00
Article source: floridapolitics.com
Read the full story at the original source: floridapolitics.com
