DeSantis says DOGE will investigate Manatee County’s government spending
Manatee County will be the next subject of examinations and audits from Florida’s Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), Gov. Ron DeSantis announced.
The state’s DOGE, backed by state funds, investigates state and local spending with a task force that is granted access to spending records, data systems, physical premises and personnel. DeSantis announced the audit during a press conference at the Manatee Performing Arts Center in Bradenton Thursday afternoon.
“We are here today to continue our record of fiscal responsibility,” DeSantis said.
“Part of the reason is, we’ve had a lot of feedback, a lot of concerned people have asked us to take a look at this when they found out that this was something that was in the budget,” DeSantis said.
He pointed to property tax increases and increased spending in Manatee County as primary reasons for the audit. According to DeSantis, property tax receipts have gone up 86% in the last six years in Manatee County, resulting in $213 million in increased revenue for the county.
DeSantis also said Manatee County experienced 14% growth in the same time frame.
In a statement provided to the Bradenton Herald, Manatee County Government said it appreciates the state’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency with the DOGE program, and emphasized the county’s efforts thus far with its local DOGE committee.
“Manatee County looks forward to working with the State of Florida and the State DOGE team on their efforts. We are proud of the progress we’ve made here in Manatee County and look forward to identifying ways to improve,” the statement said. “As stewards of public resources, we continue to prioritize responsible budgeting and accountability to our residents.”
DeSantis announces Manatee DOGE audit
“There is some dissonance there,” he said. “We’re looking at the expanding budget. Where’s the increase in spending? Where’s the justification for that? How is that being done, and what’s the basis, or where are the pathways to put taxpayers first and give them a seat at the table?”
Another concern DeSantis mentioned was the $161 million added to the county’s reserves over the last six years, which now brings the county’s reserves to $734 million.
While he proudly stated the state maxed out its rainy day fund in this year’s state budget, he said governments need to give the money back to taxpayers.
“There’s also a point at which we shouldn’t just be bogarting money. We want to give back,” DeSantis said. “The same principle applies to local government. There’s got to be a balance there.”
The state’s newly-appointed chief financial officer, Blaise Ingoglia, joined DeSantis at the press conference and will work with the DOGE task force on audits like the one in Manatee County.
“Governments should really not be increasing their budgets more than population growth and inflation growth,” Ingoglia said. “Anything over and above that should be looked at ... That is what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to shine a light on excessive, wasteful spending.”
DeSantis added that the DOGE would also bring to light positives in local budgets, one he pointed to for Manatee County being the county’s lowered millage rates.
The announcement comes days after DeSantis said similar audits would occur in Broward County and Gainesville to investigate local government spending.
DeSantis said the state’s DOGE uses the framework outlined by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk for the federal DOGE, and uses technology like artificial intelligence to review government spending.
The state’s DOGE program started with looking at state-level spending and state university budgets before deciding to start looking at local-level spending, DeSantis said.
DeSantis’ targeting of Manatee County comes after his administration and Manatee County officials butted heads in recent months. The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) tried to restore wetlands protections, but were met with state opposition that cited Senate Bill 250.
Commissioner George Kruse then voiced his disappointment in the state’s Senate Bill 180, which has similar language to Senate Bill 250, on social media.
“This is a disaster. I can’t even fathom how any rational legislature would think this is actually in the best interest of the citizens they vowed to represent,” Kruse said in a May 13 post on his X account.
In June, DeSantis signed the state’s upcoming fiscal year budget and, with it, vetoed $5 million in appropriations requested by Manatee County. Those requests included funds for health services, veterans’ services and parks.
Local leaders react
Manatee County Commissioner Carol Ann Felts was the only Manatee County commissioner in attendance atThursday’s press conference.
“I don’t think the governor said anything that we aren’t already doing on our own,” Felts said after the conference. “I think this should be everybody’s goal — to make sure that our tax dollars are collected fairly and used correctly.”
When asked if she welcomes the state DOGE team, Felts responded, “What’s there to worry about?”
Commissioner Tal Siddique said the county is also establishing its own local DOGE task force and confirming its first members at Tuesday’s meeting.
“We’ve been very quick in wanting to work with the Governor’s office in establishing our own DOGE task force with citizens from our community, so we were among the first wave of counties to respond and say, ‘Open up our books,’ and welcome the Governor’s office to come take a look,” Siddique said.
On Wednesday, one day before DeSantis’ visit, Bradenton’s City Administrator Rob Perry introduced a last-minute addition to the city council’s agenda — a resolution stating the city would be fully cooperative if the state DOGE task force needed to investigate.
The City of Bradenton will not be audited as part of DeSantis’ recent announcement, and the city has not yet been contacted by the state DOGE, according to Perry. Perry said the city would welcome an audit if the state found it necessary.
“It’s always good to have another set of eyes to look things over,” Perry said. “We think we’re in pretty good shape and we can justify our expenditures, our revenues.”
This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 4:57 PM.
