Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and the six district Commissioners have been put on notice by republican Governor Ron DeSantis’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, that county government is overspending and in a letter dated July 24, announced the State is beginning an audit. County leaders say their increase in tax collections is driven by explosive growth, not higher rates.Last year, an increase in millage to pay for expanded fire and rescue service was the first millage increase in Orange County in 17 years. Mayor Demings and several Commissioners tell WESH 2 news that growth justifies more spending to pay for public safety and other services. But DOGE claims the “government has increased burdens on property owners” by 330 million dollars in annual additional tax collections – an increase of over 50%… and a growth in annual total expenditures of over 1.6 billion dollars over the past five years, up 57%. “This number that we’re talking about that is quite significant, over $300-million, I’d like to know where that’s coming from,” Commissioner and 2026 county Mayoral candidate Mayra Uribe said. We wondered where those numbers are coming from as well. Let’s Get The Facts in our review of the five most recent budget years. From 2021 to 2025, property tax revenue increased from $692.7-million to $969.3-million this year, UP 39%… not “over 50%” as claimed by DOGE. And the average annual increase was 55 million, not “330 million.”On government spending, excluding capital projects, county expenditures went from $315.7-million in 2021 to $433.9-million in 2025… UP 36%… not “57%.” And the average annual increase was $24-million, which is not close to the State figure of $1.6-billion over five years. Uribe added, “We’re not seeing that number!” Some of the documents requested by the DOGE team appear to show a genuine State concern about fiscal responsibility. For example, the nine-million-dollar annual contract with Allied Universal Security Services, Systems, and Solutions LLP, which helps protect workers and patrons in courthouses and other buildings.A March audit, first reported by WESH 2 News, revealed deficiencies in training, screening, and public safety.And DOGE wants information on water and sewer utilities to make sure residents aren’t overpaying. But other requests appear to support the Governor’s opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion and “green new deal” programs. The DOGE team wants cost records for the Orange County Multi-Cultural Center that serves primarily minority and low-income Pine Hills residents. It also wants records on solar energy projects, like this one that’s providing energy at a facility providing water for 80,000 Orange County residents. Uribe added, “The devil is in the details and that’s where we’ll be looking.” Like Commissioner Uribe, Comptroller Phil Diamond is curious to find out how the State came up with the dollar figures, which it claims are putting a burden on taxpayers. WESH 2 reached out to the Governor’s office and that of new Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia to request more details on the mathematical formulas and source material used to determine their estimated revenues and expenditures. We’ll update our report when we hear back.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and the six district Commissioners have been put on notice by republican Governor Ron DeSantis’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, that county government is overspending and in a letter dated July 24, announced the State is beginning an audit.
County leaders say their increase in tax collections is driven by explosive growth, not higher rates.
Last year, an increase in millage to pay for expanded fire and rescue service was the first millage increase in Orange County in 17 years. Mayor Demings and several Commissioners tell WESH 2 news that growth justifies more spending to pay for public safety and other services.
But DOGE claims the “government has increased burdens on property owners” by 330 million dollars in annual additional tax collections – an increase of over 50%… and a growth in annual total expenditures of over 1.6 billion dollars over the past five years, up 57%.
“This number that we’re talking about that is quite significant, over $300-million, I’d like to know where that’s coming from,” Commissioner and 2026 county Mayoral candidate Mayra Uribe said.
We wondered where those numbers are coming from as well. Let’s Get The Facts in our review of the five most recent budget years.
From 2021 to 2025, property tax revenue increased from $692.7-million to $969.3-million this year, UP 39%… not “over 50%” as claimed by DOGE. And the average annual increase was 55 million, not “330 million.”
On government spending, excluding capital projects, county expenditures went from $315.7-million in 2021 to $433.9-million in 2025… UP 36%… not “57%.” And the average annual increase was $24-million, which is not close to the State figure of $1.6-billion over five years.
Uribe added, “We’re not seeing that number!”
Some of the documents requested by the DOGE team appear to show a genuine State concern about fiscal responsibility. For example, the nine-million-dollar annual contract with Allied Universal Security Services, Systems, and Solutions LLP, which helps protect workers and patrons in courthouses and other buildings.
A March audit, first reported by WESH 2 News, revealed deficiencies in training, screening, and public safety.
And DOGE wants information on water and sewer utilities to make sure residents aren’t overpaying.
But other requests appear to support the Governor’s opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion and “green new deal” programs.
The DOGE team wants cost records for the Orange County Multi-Cultural Center that serves primarily minority and low-income Pine Hills residents.
It also wants records on solar energy projects, like this one that’s providing energy at a facility providing water for 80,000 Orange County residents. Uribe added, “The devil is in the details and that’s where we’ll be looking.”
Like Commissioner Uribe, Comptroller Phil Diamond is curious to find out how the State came up with the dollar figures, which it claims are putting a burden on taxpayers.
WESH 2 reached out to the Governor’s office and that of new Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia to request more details on the mathematical formulas and source material used to determine their estimated revenues and expenditures. We’ll update our report when we hear back.