State officials will conduct investigations to see where they can cut spending to lessen the burden on taxpayers.

TAMPA, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the next round of DOGE audits will target Pinellas and Hillsborough counties to analyze local government spending.

The goal is for government officials to make sure taxpayer money is being used responsibly. The teams will be collaborating with the departments of financial services, revenue, transportation, commerce and education to see where they can cut spending. 

In a letter to Hillsborough County officials, state government officials said they will be coming to the area to review the increase in spending.

“Rising property values have pushed annual property tax collections up by over $600 million since FY 18-19, according to your published budgets,” officials wrote.

They go on to say that the county’s spending has increased by almost 70% during that period. Officials will be conducting their investigation on Aug. 11 and 12, according to the letter. 

In a similar letter to St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, state officials cite that residents have seen the property tax burden increase by more than 75%. DOGE officials will be visiting St. Pete on Aug. 13 and 14 to investigate “this type of excessive spending.”

Pinellas County is also set for review on Thursday and Friday, while Manatee County is being audited this week. 

“Florida is the model for fiscal responsibility at the state level, and we will utilize our authority to ensure local governments to follow suit,” DeSantis said in a statement. “Florida’s DOGE efforts are owed to the taxpayer and yet another way their state is pursuing fiscal responsibility.” 

Other audits in Florida have targeted Broward County and the city of Gainesville. Orange County and Jacksonville are among the next to be investigated, according to a news release.  

“For years, I’ve called out reckless local spending, often on things taxpayers would never support if they knew the full story. As local budgets grow, we must ask whether these increases are truly justified,” state CFO Blaise Ingoglia said in a statement.