PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. — Florida’s chief financial officer put Broward County’s budget on blast Tuesday, accusing local leaders of wasting taxpayer dollars.
“Government is just going wild with our tax dollars,” CFO Blaise Ingoglia said during remarks at Keiser University in Pembroke Pines.
Ingoglia used charts and figures to highlight what he called excessive spending.
“For every person moving into Broward County over the last five years, your county’s budget increased almost $11,000,” he said.
His visit came shortly after Broward County approved its $1.7 billion property tax budget, which included a small reduction in the county’s millage rate.
“There’s a lot more for Broward government to cut and offer true property tax relief,” Ingoglia said.
Broward leaders previously told Local 10 News that eliminating property taxes — an idea floated by the governor’s office — would essentially defund police and fire rescue resources.
Ingoglia pushed back, saying his audit accounts for first responders.
“There is more than enough money in the budget to fully fund fire and police,” he said.
Ingoglia did not specify which county he plans to target next with his “DOGE” accountability and financial oversight efforts.
“Local governments are not going to restrain spending themselves,” he said. “It’s going to be imposed on them.”
Broward commissioners have defended the budget as fiscally sound and argued that eliminating property taxes is not a realistic option.
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