JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayor Donna Deegan is pushing back against a state-led audit of Jacksonville’s finances, labeling the investigation a “hyper-partisan exercise” designed to score political points rather than protect taxpayers, and Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia fired back.
In a video shared by News 104.5 WOKV, Deegan specifically addressed critiques of the city’s rising personnel costs, arguing that the spending increases are driven by investments in public safety.
“When I looked at all these things, it’s like, you can look at it in its entirety,” Deegan said. “The whole idea of the personnel costs—you look at that and you go, yeah, that’s a big increase. Oh, but it’s also police and fire.”
Deegan questioned the consistency of state leaders who criticize the city’s budget while claiming to support first responders.
“These are the same folks that say they support police and fire, but they want to take a shot at how we’re spending our money on police and fire, and that’s really it,” she added.
Ingoglia, who has spearheaded the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, initiative, quickly dismissed Deegan’s characterization of the audit.
In a direct response, Ingoglia called the mayor’s defense “total and complete BS,” maintaining that the audit’s focus is fiscal accountability rather than party lines.
“How can it be hyper-partisan when we also called out ruby red Nassau Co and Manatee Co for their egregious spending?” Ingoglia wrote. “It’s not that you don’t like the audit… you just don’t like the results.”
The audit recently identified $199 million in what the state classifies as “wasteful and excessive” spending within Jacksonville’s general fund. While state officials have used the findings to lobby for massive property tax relief, the Deegan administration maintains that the budget is lean and focused on essential services.