Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia calls out over 302 million dollars in Miami-Dade County budget as excessive and wasteful
Miami, Florida – Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia has publicly criticized the Miami-Dade County Budget, labeling over $302 million as “excessive, wasteful spending.” According to Ingoglia, this represents the highest level of wasteful expenditure among the nine local governments recently reviewed, and the announcement comes as part of a broader initiative to hold local governments accountable and advocate for property tax relief for Florida residents.
“I continue to be astounded at the amount of wasteful, excessive spending by local governments over the last five years, but unfortunately, Miami-Dade County takes the cake. They have overspent and overtaxed their residents to the tune of $302 million, and they have exploded the local government bureaucracy with the hiring of more than 2800 employees over just the last 5 years. Miami-Dade officials must take action to do better by their constituents and provide property tax relief for the families that depend on them,” Ingoglia said during a press briefing on Tuesday.
The Chief Financial Officer’s assessment points to a staggering growth in the county’s General Fund Budget over the past five years. From Fiscal Year 2019-2020, the budget increased by more than $843 million, representing a 50.28% increase. During the same period, Miami-Dade’s population grew by 65,501 residents, translating to a $12,884 increase in the budget per new resident. For a family of four, this increase equates to an additional $51,535 in budgetary spending.
In practical terms, CFO Ingoglia suggests that the county could reduce the millage rate by 0.53 mills without affecting the services provided to constituents. Such a reduction could provide substantial relief to homeowners, including savings of $266 per year on a home with a taxable value of $500,000, $319 per year on a $600,000 home, and $372 per year on a $700,000 home.
The announcement has drawn praise from policy advocates, including Turner Losel of the James Madison Institute, who emphasized the need for reform. “Florida taxpayers have consistently expressed a desire for property tax reform. In a recent JMI poll, 72% of Florida registered voters have shown their overwhelming support for change. We are grateful for CFO Ingoglia paving the way for property tax relief, starting with holding local governments accountable,” Losel said.
CFO Ingoglia’s review does not only focus on Miami-Dade County. Across the nine local governments examined, he identified a total of $1.5 billion in wasteful spending in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 General Fund Budgets. The report highlights concerns over bureaucratic expansion, unnecessary expenditures, and the lack of meaningful property tax relief for residents. Ingoglia has stated that he plans to continue reviewing local governments across Florida to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently.
While county officials have not yet formally responded to Ingoglia’s report, the announcement has sparked discussions among local leaders and taxpayers about the need for budget reform and greater fiscal responsibility. Critics of the current budget point to the rapid growth in personnel costs and administrative spending as evidence that the county could streamline operations and redirect funds toward property tax relief without compromising public services.
Governor Blaise Ingoglia’s office emphasized that this initiative is part of a statewide effort to identify and reduce wasteful spending while empowering taxpayers. By shining a light on Miami-Dade County’s budget, Ingoglia hopes to encourage local officials to prioritize financial responsibility and implement measures that alleviate the financial burden on homeowners.
As the population and economic demands in Miami-Dade continue to grow, CFO Ingoglia’s findings underscore a pressing need for fiscal prudence, accountability, and reforms that directly benefit the residents of Florida. By calling out excessive spending and advocating for tangible tax relief, Ingoglia’s office aims to set a precedent for transparency and efficiency across the state’s local governments.
