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Broward County, FL - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has confirmed that Broward County will undergo a detailed audit by the state’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) following concerns over excessive spending.
During a press conference in Fort Lauderdale, DeSantis outlined plans to review the financial practices of various counties that have allegedly failed to report overspending patterns to the state.
Starting July 31, auditors will assess the data systems of counties that have not cooperated with state efforts to track spending.
Broward County, in particular, has drawn criticism from DeSantis for increasing property taxes by $450 million over the past five years, an almost 50% hike.
DeSantis emphasized that these increases have burdened taxpayers and are a prime example of inefficient government spending.
Florida’s newly appointed Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia has also committed to auditing local governments, including Broward County.
Ingoglia sent a letter to local officials requesting access to county offices, data systems, and personnel on July 31st and August 1st, 2025.
The audit will focus on county contracts, payroll records, and documents related to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
While Governor DeSantis and CFO Ingoglia have criticized Broward County’s financial management, local officials, including Commissioner Steve Geller, have disputed these claims.
Geller argued that the county’s tax rates follow widely accepted guidelines and suggested that the state’s actions may have political motivations.
The audit of Broward County marks part of a larger initiative to review government spending across Florida, with more audits expected in other counties.