Ingoglia accuses Jacksonville of wasteful spending

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(The Center Square) – A few days after accusing Orange County of excessive spending, Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia on Wednesday leveled a similar charge against the city of Jacksonville.

The city is overtaxing citizens by nearly $200 million annually, Ingoglia said. The figure is based on inflation and population growth over the last five years, the CFO said.

The formula also includes filters for government efficiency, or lack of it, Ingoglia said.

“We got to what the budget should be under normal, sane circumstances with people who are somewhat fiscally responsible with their money,” he said. “And they were $200 million over that number. That’s an outstanding number.”

As property values and assessments have increased over the last few years, local governments have benefited from higher property tax receipts.

“Local governments are taking that money and expanding government, paying people within the bureaucracy some pretty big raises and wasting dollar after dollar – your tax dollars,” Ingoglia said.

The city’s general fund budget – paid through property taxes – increased by $692 million over the past five years, he said.

“That is a 50.2% increase,” Ingoglia said. “That is an astounding number and outpaces inflation and population growth.”

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan disputed the conclusions.

“We already maintain the lowest property tax rate of any major city in Florida,” she said in a statement. “Our fiscal responsibility is recognized by the leading ratings agencies, and our investments in public safety and infrastructure are creating a high quality of life, which is the reason we have the fastest growing population in Florida.”

Ingoglia’s analysis “largely ignored” the fact the Jacksonville is a combined city-county government covering the largest land mass of any city in the contiguous United States, the mayor said. The large land area requires more police and fire resources.

“Response times matter,” Deegan said. “Jacksonville’s top-notch Insurance Services Office rating saves citizens more than $300 million per year in property insurance costs, which are rising at a much faster rate than property tax bills.”