A Seminole County leader is defending the county’s finances after Florida’s chief financial officer criticized local spending.

Commissioner Jay Zembower spoke with WESH 2 News on Saturday, saying the county’s rising costs are tied to inflation and increased expenses for essential services — not wasteful spending.

Zembower said the county has not yet been audited, but has complied with information requests made by the state earlier this year.

Earlier this week, Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia took aim at Seminole County’s budget in a Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight, or FAFO, audit of the county government.

Ingoglia said residents have been overtaxed, noting that since 2019, the Seminole County General Fund budget has increased by $137 million — a 46.7% jump in just five years.

Zembower

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