ORLANDO, Fla. – Personnel representing Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) descended on Orlando Monday, launching its audit of the city.
“We’re open to letting anybody go through our books,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said on Monday. “Most of the information they have is readily available through public records requests. But we feel like we’re a prudent, well-run city government.”
Dyer had previously signaled the city would cooperate with the state’s audit after DOGE sent him a letter scrutinizing the city’s spending.
“Although Orlando has kept its millage rates constant in recent years, rising property values pushed budgeted annual property tax collections up by over $120 million between 2020 and 2025—a 55% increase,” the letter, dated July 30, began. “This growing burden on property owners significantly outpaces inflation and the growth in population reported in your budget over that time period.”
A similar letter was sent to Orange County. Representatives with DOGE visited the county’s administration building last week to gain access to the county’s data systems in an effort to complete that audit.
The letter sent to Dyer included at least 60 specific requests related to areas like homeless services, diversity, equity and inclusion, and environmental efforts.
“I would hope that the social services that provide for my neighborhood centers, to making sure we reduce crime, to all of the activities that we do in the city are not negatively impacted,” said Shan Rose, the interim City Commissioner for District 5.
Like Dyer, Rose said she has no concerns about DOGE personnel examining the city’s finances.
“We have internal audits every month,” she said. “So we’ll be fine.”
After letters to Orange County, Orlando, and other local entities surfaced, detractors criticized them as politically motivated stunts.
Given the criticism, News 6’s Orlando Community Correspondent Mike Valente asked Dyer, Rose, and City Commissioner Tony Ortiz the same question: “Do you think this audit is a legitimate probe or a political fishing expedition?”
Dyer laughed and said, “I’ll pass on that one.”
“I’d say this,” Rose said. “We’re going to give you all the answers that you’re looking for. That’s what we’re here for. We are fiscally responsible here at the city of Orlando and that’s all this will show.”
Ortiz was also similarly careful with his answer.
“I don’t know what to make out of it,” he said. “But at the end of the day, audits have a positive purpose, also. It exonerates people from any kind of negative thinking anybody may have. So I welcome audits.”
Dyer told reporters that city officials complied with the requests, providing all pertinent documents to the DOGE representatives after they arrived Monday.
“It was quite an effort,” he said. “There were a lot of staff involved. I know that there were 27,000 files that were uploaded.”
DOGE representatives are expected to return to Orlando City Hall on Tuesday.