Florida DOGE team eyes Jacksonville for financial review

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville’s budget-cutting efforts are now on the state’s radar after leaders found millions in unused funds. 

The Florida DOGE team is heading to Jacksonville next week, digging into how tax dollars are being spent. 

City leaders say the local DOGE effort has already uncovered millions in unused funds, but now, the state wants a deeper look.

“We identified about $25 million in projects that had lapsed and there was no activity, and we have captured those dollars and we’re going to use them for other things,” said Jacksonville City Councilman Ron Salem.

Salem said the mayor’s office recently got a letter from the Chief Financial Officer’s Office asking for more information. That letter referenced Duval DOGE’s work: “We’re trying to use your tax dollars as efficiently as we can and I think that’s what’s important and if we can return some of those dollars back to the taxpayers in the form of a tax cut, I think we should try to do that.”

Jacksonville resident John Nooney says this kind of review matters because it’s all public money.

“It’s our money, so how is it being spent and if there’s problems with it and they’re uncovering it to make it better then bring it on,” he said.

Salem told First Coast News the Duval DOGE released reports after each meeting and says this upcoming visit comes as the state considers changes to how cities are funded.

“The state effort is taking a hard look at whether we should have property taxes or trying to reduce or limit them and that would have a tremendous impact on our city budget,” Salem said.

Salem said the state’s planning to visit Jacksonville at the end of next week. He’s working with city auditors to have their response ready by tomorrow.