DeSantis’ “Florida DOGE” team set to examine Manatee County.

Governor DeSantis Directs Audit in Manatee County

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has mandated his Florida DOGE task force to conduct an audit of the Republican-controlled Manatee County. The initiative is part of a broader effort to scrutinize local governments and state universities, aiming to spotlight what the governor claims is misspending.

During a recent press conference, DeSantis revealed that tax rolls in Manatee County have surged, primarily due to increasing property values. This spike has caught the attention of the task force. “You have seen over the last six years, you know, you’ve seen a really significant increase in spending at the county level. Property tax receipts have gone up 86% in the last six years in this county, and that’s $213 million in increased collection,” he stated.

The task force is already investigating spending patterns in Broward County and Gainesville. Contrasting with those Democratic strongholds, Republicans in Manatee outnumber Democrats by a 2 to 1 ratio.

Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia echoed the governor’s sentiments during the presser, stressing that rising property tax collections should prompt scrutiny of all local governments with increasing expenditures. “For me personally, as a fiscal watchdog and as a friend of the taxpayer, it doesn’t matter if a county or city is Republican-led or Democrat-led. What matters to me is if you are spending over and above what you should be spending,” he remarked.

Organizations such as Florida Tax Watch have endorsed this audit initiative, advocating that it will enhance transparency in often opaque local contracting and spending practices. Conversely, critics contend that local government overspending may not be solely a partisan issue.

This audit push coincides with DeSantis’s and Ingoglia’s commitment to present a proposal for property tax cuts on the ballot in 2026.