Pinellas County Responds to Florida DOGE Audits on Spending

DOGE Audits in Pinellas County

• auditor team from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DOGE) visited Pinellas County to review spending.
• 🗣️ The county states that discussions with DOGE auditors were not recorded and not open to the public.

Disputed Spending Figures

• 📊 DOGE claims county spending increased by 43% since 2020, but Pinellas County disputes this, stating the actual increase is closer to 37%.
• 📉 The county argues DOGE was looking at adopted budgets rather than actual numbers, leading to overstatements of revenues and expenditures.
• 💰 Pinellas County acknowledges a $250 million increase in general fund expenditures since 2020, with significant portions allocated to the sheriff's office for deputy salaries, one-time capital projects, and roads and bridges.

Property Tax Rates and Public Safety

• 🎯 The governor's stated goal for DOGE audits is to cut excessive spending and reduce property tax rates.
• ⚠️ State Representative Lindsey Cross criticized these efforts as a distraction, noting that most property taxes fund public safety like police and fire services.

County's Transparency and Tax Rate History

• ✅ Pinellas County expressed willingness for transparency, stating there is "no harm in having another set of eyes" on public dollars.
• 💰 The county also pointed out that it reduced its property tax rate in three of the past five years.

Upcoming Audits

• 🗺️ Following Pinellas County, the DOGE team is expected to audit the City of St. Pete and Hillsborough County next week.