As he continues calling out local governments on spending, he expects lawmakers and voters will appreciate his affordability agenda.
Many people in Florida don’t realize the state government has a Chief Financial Officer. But Blaise Ingoglia is raising awareness while hammering local governments for raising spending levels.
“We were going into this sort of reimagining the role, and also being very, very vocal when it comes to a lot of the issues,” the Spring Hill Republican said.
The Cabinet member visited a Florida TaxWatch gathering in Orlando shortly after stopping in Seminole County to call out $48 million in “excessive, wasteful spending.” It’s part of a series of visits to counties that have increased property rates — many of those run by Democratic officials — to hammer spending decisions.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Ingoglia, who stands for election to a full term in 2026. As he gears up for a first statewide run, the former Republican Party of Florida Chair brushed off questions about whether President Donald Trump — or White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles — might recruit a closer ally into the race.
“I’m concerned with doing the best job I possibly can as CFO,” Ingoglia told Florida Politics. “I cannot control what other people do or don’t do. What I can control is busting my butt and working hard for the taxpayers of Florida.”
Since taking office, he has joined the Governor’s mission to eliminate property taxes altogether in Florida.
“Just think about what Florida would be like if we had a state that had no income tax and no property taxes on homesteaded properties,” he said. “You want to talk about generating long-term prosperity for the people that live in the state? That’s it right there.”
He said history has shown that local governments can handle the austerity better than some naysayers predict.
He noted that in the 2000s, the homestead exemption on property taxes was doubled as property values went down. Nevertheless, essential services remained untouched.
“Not one fire personnel was let go, not one law enforcement officer was fired,” he said. “In fact, they kept on hiring law enforcement officers. They just reprioritized their spending because they had fiscal constraint. Right now in the state of Florida, local governments do not have any fiscal restraint whatsoever.”
He specifically highlighted Seminole County, and has previously shamed spending in Jacksonville, Orange County and St. Petersburg. But he promised that upcoming press releases will spotlight responsible spending by some local governments.
Ingoglia, a former Senator and Representative, feels confident the Legislature won’t try to undermine the agenda.
“We’re having conversations with House and Senate leadership now,” Ingoglia said. “My agenda is the agenda of the taxpayers of the state of Florida. If we’re going to stand up for the taxpayers, then we have to put forth a bold agenda to make sure that we cut property taxes and hold the government accountable. I welcome the conversations with House and Senate leadership to get to that point.”
More than checking spending, Ingoglia said his chief goal remains addressing an affordability crisis that has festered for decades in the state. He said reforms approved in recent years while he was in the Legislature have resulted in the lowering of rates for homeowners, and he doesn’t want those policies rolled back.
“We have things moving in the right direction when it comes to insurance,” he said.
But he said that makes the cost of property taxes all the more important, as that counters efforts to create more affordable housing.
“I have little sympathy for somebody who raises property taxes after we find out they has wasted millions,” he said.
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