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Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia Announces Over $112 Million in “Excessive, Wasteful Spending” in Manatee County Budget

10/16/2025

 

BRADENTON, Fla.- Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Blaise Ingoglia announced over $112 million is being excessively and wastefully spent in the Manatee County Budget. CFO Ingoglia is urging the county to change course with its spending habits and offer substantial property tax relief to its residents.

 

Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said, “Local governments have consistently proven how irresponsible they are with taxpayer dollars. Property tax relief is needed to ensure that residents can thrive in their homes and communities. Manatee County, along with local governments across the state, should focus on reducing the burden on taxpayers. Residents are asking for property tax relief and local governments need to deliver.”

 

Jeff Kottkamp, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Florida Tax Watch, said, “Local property taxes have far exceeded the rate of population growth and inflation, which has increased the financial strain on homeowners. Today’s announcement is a call to action for local governments, like Manatee County, to evaluate budgets ensuring maximum value for taxpayers' hard-earned dollars. We applaud CFO Blaise Ingoglia for working hard to bring transparency and accountability for Florida's taxpayers.” 

 

Dave Spicer, business owner and Manatee County Resident, said, “As a proud Floridian, it is shocking to see extremely high numbers of excessive spending from my county. While property taxes rise, our return on our investment does not. This makes it extremely challenging to be a homeowner in Manatee County. I am thankful for CFO Ingoglia’s mission to eliminate reckless spending and fight for property tax relief for all Floridians.” 

 

Manatee County’s General Fund Budget has increased by over $268 million since Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-2020, an increase of 69%. The county experienced an increase in population since FY 2019-2020 of 61,545. Additionally, the budget increased by $4,369 for every person that moved to Manatee County, it increases for a family of four by $17,479.

 

 

A taxable home value of $400,000 could save $436 per year

A taxable home value of $500,000 could save $545 per year

A taxable home value of $600,000 could save $655 per year

 

The "DOGE" Connection: The audit was part of a larger push by Governor DeSantis to use the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to identify local government waste.

Local Response: In response to these findings, the county established a Government Efficiency Liaison Committee, a citizen-led group dedicated to reviewing purchasing policies and streamlining operations. 

 

 

        Current County Actions (FY 2026 Budget)

For the current 2026 fiscal year, the Manatee County Commission has already approved more modest relief: 

Approved Cut: A minor reduction of 0.05 mills.

Counter-Warnings: Commissioners have cautioned that if the state's larger tax elimination plans pass, the county may have to cut "niceties" such as free bus fares, public pools, and conservation land purchases. 

 

Summary of Potential Savings

Proposal Source Millage Reduction  Estimated Savings ($500k Home)

Current County Cut (FY26)  0.05 mills$22 - $25

State Audit Recommendation  1.09 mills$545

State HJR 201 (2027) Total Elimination  *$2,000+ (Est. non-school portion)

*Excludes school-related taxes and requires voter approval. 

The Manatee County Government Efficiency Liaison Committee is currently hosting "Budget 101" workshops through March and April 2026 to get public input on which services residents are willing to sacrifice for these larger tax breaks.