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Florida CFO Says Palm Beach County Overspent $344 Million, Biggest Finding So Far

Ingoglia links the result to a broader audit campaign seeking a 2026 ballot measure to cap local budgets.

Overview

  • The CFO’s office reported Palm Beach County exceeded its budget benchmark by about $344 million, calling it the largest single figure identified this year.
  • State auditors said their statewide reviews have tallied roughly $1.87–$1.9 billion in alleged excess spending across 11 local governments.
  • The calculations compare current budgets to 2019–20 levels adjusted for inflation and population growth to determine overages.
  • Ingoglia urged lawmakers to craft language for a November 2026 constitutional amendment that would limit local government spending and target property-tax relief.
  • Palm Beach County officials said they are cooperating and pursuing efficiencies to trim costs, as Ingoglia estimated potential average homeowner savings of about $300 a year if cuts are made.