{"id":348924,"date":"2025-12-18T16:22:05","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:22:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cltampa.com\/?p=348924"},"modified":"2025-12-18T16:25:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:25:54","slug":"in-tampa-ingoglia-proposes-legislation-to-remove-elected-officials-for-financial-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cltampa.com\/news\/in-tampa-ingoglia-proposes-legislation-to-remove-elected-officials-for-financial-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"In Tampa, Ingoglia proposes legislation to remove elected officials for ‘financial abuse’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia at a press conference about “excessive spending” in Orlando. Credit:<\/span> myfloridacfo.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Blaise Ingoglia previewed legislation Wednesday meant to increase spending accountability and transparency for local government officials, with penalties for noncompliance including fines and removal from office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingoglia has been crisscrossing the state for months with his FAFO (Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight) team, auditing spending by some of the state\u2019s largest counties and municipalities. To date they have reviewed spending by 11 local governments and say that they have found more than $1.86 billion in alleged wasteful and excessive spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingoglia has been clear that part of the effort is to show taxpayers that extensive wasteful spending is taking place. His assertion of such excesses, he believes, should quell arguments by local government officials that a proposed reduction in property taxes for homestead properties will harm essential local services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he wants to put a measure on the statewide ballot next November that would eliminate of substantially reduce property taxes on homestead properties but has yet to release his own proposal(s). He has, however, ridiculed the proposals on the issue already moving their way through the Florida House as \u201cmilquetoast.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingoglia introduced his proposal during a press conference in Tampa that featured state Rep. Monique Miller, R-Palm Bay, who said she will sponsor them in the Florida House during the 2026 session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver the last five years, we have seen property taxes increase by nearly 50%, and this at a time when Florida\u2019s families are being asked to tighten their belts,\u201d she said. \u201cTo be direct, tax dollars have become a drug for local governments. And, like any addiction, as long as the supply is unlimited, the behavior will not change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The provisions in the legislation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The proposals discussed on Wednesday that will be sponsored by Miller in the House and Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, would include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n