Overview

• CFO Blaise Ingoglia said Wednesday that Jacksonville is overtaxing and overspending by almost $200 million, urging a deeper property tax cut than the City Council is considering.
• In Orange County earlier this week, Ingoglia alleged $190.64 million in excess spending over five years and proposed a 0.86‑mill rate reduction worth about $257 a year on a $300,000 home.
• Ingoglia described a formula that starts with 2019–2020 budgets, then adjusts annually for inflation and population growth and adds 5% and 10% buffers, which he said the Department of Revenue reviewed.
• Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings rejected the figures as “fuzzy math,” citing a larger population increase of about 125,000, a smaller general fund rise of $474 million, heavy tourism-driven service demands, and higher public safety costs.
• Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond said he has not been shown specifics to substantiate the CFO’s claims, following DOGE’s August subpoenas to 16 county staffers and public warnings of potential funding consequences.