Florida CFO Audit Finds $344M Overspending in Palm Beach County Linked to Property Taxes

Florida's Chief Financial Officer, Blaise Ingoglia, announced that an audit by his office identified $344 million in overspending by the Palm Beach County government. This overspending is linked to increasing property tax collections, marking the largest such figure reported in Florida for this year. The audit is part of a broader scrutiny under the Florida Agency on Fiscal Oversight, which has reviewed budgets of 11 Florida cities and counties, uncovering $1.9 billion in total overspending using 2019-20 budgets adjusted for inflation and population growth as baselines. Republican lawmakers in Florida are actively pursuing legislation to control property taxes for 2026, aligning with these findings. County officials in Palm Beach have acknowledged the audit results and are collaborating on strategies to reduce expenditures while maintaining essential services. The CFO estimates that reducing the identified overspending could save homeowners in Palm Beach County about $300 annually in property taxes.