‘Questionable.’ DeSantis criticizes Manatee County spending in DOGE audit update
Gov. Ron DeSantis provided a long-awaited update to the state’s fiscal audit of Manatee County Government, criticizing some previous decisions as “questionable.”
During a press conference in Bradenton — which focused largely on bills relating to the upcoming property tax referendum — DeSantis also gave the first insights into the state’s Department of Government Efficiency audit of Manatee County, which started last July.
“The DOGE team found Manatee County carried out capital projects with limited planning, and based on questionable assumptions,” DeSantis said. “The number of staff funded grew pretty dramatically, 25% increase.”
DeSantis did not provide further details about which capital projects he objected to or why he found them “questionable.”
DeSantis shares negatives, positives of DOGE review
However, after pointing out the negatives, DeSantis also praised aspects of Manatee County’s budget, like the zero-base budgeting approach, millage reductions and keeping general fund spending below increases in ad valorem revenue.
He also said the county has worked well with the state to identify opportunities to help taxpayers.
“I think that’s great that Manatee has done that,” DeSantis said. “There’s some jurisdictions that they don’t want to ever listen or do any of the stuff like that.”
Manatee County also started its own DOGE-like committee called the Government Efficiency Liaison Committee. The committee is made of five community members who audit the county’s finances and correspond with the state’s DOGE team.
State officials previously criticized Manatee’s budget
A separate, broader audit conducted by the state was the Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight audit, which was led by Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia.
“Blaise (Ingoglia) found that Manatee County’s overall budget had grown faster than the rate of inflation and population growth, even despite the millage cuts,” DeSantis said at the June 24 press conference.
When Ingoglia visited Bradenton in October, he announced that the FAFO audit showed Manatee County’s general fund budget was $112 million more than state officials said it should be. He also criticized the county’s number of full-time employees.
“On a percentage basis, Manatee County is probably the worst that we’ve come across so far in the amount of the percentage over and above inflation and population,” Ingoglia said at the October press conference.
What is next for DOGE audit of Manatee County?
When reached for comment about DeSantis’ DOGE update, a spokesperson for Manatee County Government said further DOGE findings will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners during its July 28 meeting. The county’s DOGE committee will also present findings at that meeting.
“We appreciate the work that has gone into the review process and look forward to sharing more once those presentations are made public,” the county spokesperson said in an email.
