SANFORD, Fla.- Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Blaise Ingoglia announced that Seminole County is spending $48 million excessively over the amount that would account for population growth and inflation in its General Fund Budget. CFO Ingoglia is calling on the Seminole County Commission to reverse course on its rising property taxes and reduce their wasteful spending to offer relief for its residents.

Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said, “Unfortunately, it seems that local governments are only willing to reduce property taxes when they’re forced to. That’s why property tax reform is so vital. Seminole County’s refusal to listen to the taxpayers is as tone-deaf as it is bewildering. As CFO, I am committed to calling out local government waste and excessive spending of taxpayer money. I will make sure that the taxpayers are armed with the information they need to hold government accountable.”

Dr. Bob McClure, James Madison Institute (JMI), said, “Due to inflation, Floridians are under constant pressure from rising living costs and are seeking relief now. In fact, according to the recent JMI poll, 66% of voters express concerns about affording their homes due to rising property taxes. I strongly support the CFO’s mission in exposing how local governments are wasting taxpayer money and continuing to increase property taxes as a result.”

Jesse Phillips, Seminole County Resident and Business Owner said, “As a Seminole County homeowner, the rising millage rate impacts me and my family. As a business owner, when the budgets of Seminole County families are impacted, so are local businesses. Wasteful spending isn’t just a problem in Washington, D.C.—it exists at every level of government, including right here in Seminole County. I am thankful to the CFO for his commitment to exposing local government waste and protecting the taxpayers.”

The General Fund Budget of Seminole County has increased by over $136 million since Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-2020, an increase of 46.7%. Instead of raising the millage rate, the Seminole County Commission could have reduced its millage rate by 0.81 mills without impacting any of the services provided to residents. If homeowners had this reduction, they could have saved:

• A taxable home value of $400,000 could save $324 per year
• A taxable home value of $500,000 could save $404 per year
• A taxable home value of $600,000 could save $485 per year

The population of Seminole County has only increased by 25,338 since FY 2019-2020. The General Fund Budget increased by $5,402 for each citizen who moved to Seminole County. For a family of four, the increase is $21,608.

For FY 2025-2026, Seminole County voted to raise the millage rate from 4.8751 to 5.3751. That property tax increase will result in Seminole County receiving an additional $27 million in taxpayer funds, while they are already excessively spending above population growth and inflation.

CFO Ingoglia has identified over $1 billion in wasteful spending across six local governments. CFO Ingoglia plans to continue to expose wasteful and excessive spending across the state as part of his role as the Chief Financial Officer of Florida.