ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Florida’s chief financial officer criticized spending by Orange County’s government in a press conference Wednesday, describing it as “excessive” and “wasteful.”
“Your property taxes are going up not because of essential services, but because of excessive, wasteful spending by career politicians who think you are an endless ATM,” Ingoglia said at the event, which was attended by a smattering of supporters and journalists.
Ingoglia said that the Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight (FAFO) determined that the county’s wasteful spending last year amounted to about $300 million.
Like Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, Ingoglia has been pushing for property tax reform. He has traveled across the state, highlighting what he sees as wasteful spending by local governments. He has claimed that his team’s findings underscore the opportunity local governments have to cut spending without sacrificing essential services.
The event mirrored one Ingoglia held last September, when he accused the county of overtaxing residents by $190 million during the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
After that press conference, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings claimed Ingoglia was using “fuzzy math.”
Fast forward to Wednesday, News 6’s Mike Valente recalled those comments by Demings while asking a question to Ingoglia.
“(Mayor Demings) accused you of using ‘fuzzy math,’” Valente said, before pointing to a sign behind Ingoglia. “Is that part of the reason why you brought the methodology here to show everyone?”
Ingoglia responded by saying he believes the methodology is clear, and then pivoted to taking a dig at Demings.
“We can write it out for Jerry Demings in crayon if I need to so he can understand it,” Ingoglia said.
News 6 reached out to Demings’ administration. A spokesperson for Orange County government said she was aware of Ingoglia’s press conference and would let News 6 know if she planned on providing a comment in response.
Below is Demings’ response:
“The claim that Orange County has misspent hundreds of millions of dollars is not only misleading but false. We maintain full transparency in how we invest to enhance the quality of life for our residents.
The very services that the CFO maintains Orange County should be spending money on—are the very things we prioritize---top-tier first responders, robust infrastructure and roads, clean water, and affordable housing.
The state CFO is chasing a false narrative that doesn’t exist instead of focusing on the real affordability challenges facing Floridians.”
Jerry L. Demings