MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. - Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia slammed Manatee County government on Thursday, saying it’s spending too much and overtaxing its citizens.

When it comes to excessive spending, Ingoglia said Manatee County was the worst of the seven counties and cities audited so far by the DOGE committee.

"Wasteful, excessive spending knows no partisan bounds," he said.

By the numbers:

Ingoglia said the committee’s audit of Manatee County’s finances took inflation and population growth into account and found the county spent $112 million more than it reasonably should have.

Ingoglia did not reveal the specific areas where overspending occurred. Those details will be released later. But he noted the county’s general fund, funded by property taxes, increased by

See Full Page