Florida DOGE Audits: The Full Story from Subpoenas to Final Numbers – How Much Money Can Stay in Your Pocket in 2026?`

By Sean King, Public Relations/Media Associate, J & Washington 

ORLANDO – If you own a home in Dr. Phillips, rent an apartment in Pine Hills, run a small business in Lake Nona, or just drive our roads every day, this story is about one thing: your money. 

Back in the summer of 2025, Florida’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) rolled into Orange County and the City of Orlando with one mission – find waste and give taxpayers a break. What followed was high drama: 210,000 documents turned over, 16 county employees subpoenaed, accusations of hiding files, and dueling press conferences that lit up X and local news for months. 

Now the final numbers are in. The subpoenas are history. The audits are complete. Here’s the plain-English truth of what happened, what DOGE found, and – most importantly – what it could mean for your property-tax bill next year. 

The Timeline Every Taxpayer Needs to Know 

August 5–12, 2025 – The Auditors Arrive 

DOGE teams showed up first at Orange County (Aug. 5-6) and then at City of Orlando offices (Aug. 11-12). 

• Orange County handed over 183,000 files – emails, contracts, spreadsheets. • Orlando uploaded 27,000 documents. 

They dug into everything: employee pay raises, DEI grants, homelessness programs, solar panels in Parramore, electric vehicles, even a $460,000 tree-counting contract. 

Mayor Buddy Dyer said at the time: “It was quite an effort… we feel really good about how we have managed our financial status over the years.” 

August 27 – The Subpoena Bombshell 

Gov. Ron DeSantis and CFO Blaise Ingoglia held a press conference in Orlando and accused Orange County staff of hiding records – renaming files, scrubbing DEI keywords from emails, and giving scripted answers. 

Sixteen employees, including the county attorney, were subpoenaed over five DEI-related grants worth more than $500,000.

Ingoglia warned: “Don’t lie to us.” DeSantis summed it up in three words: “Fooled around and found out.” 

Late August – Local Leaders Fire Back 

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings: “No employee was instructed to alter, change or delete any documents… This whole process has been tainted… they’ve already tried and convicted Orange County before they’ve ever completed their investigation.” 

September 15 – First Big Number Drops 

Ingoglia announced Orange County’s general fund had grown $559 million in five years. After adjusting for inflation and population, DOGE labeled $190.6 million of that “excessive and wasteful.” 

Translation: The county could cut its property-tax rate by 0.86 mills and still provide every service. 

Mayor Demings called it “fuzzy math,” pointing to 125,000 new residents (not 79,000), 206,000 daily tourists, and big raises for deputies and firefighters. 

October 1 – State Highlights Specific Spending 

DeSantis and Ingoglia released examples: 

• Orlando: $460,000 since 2020 to count trees, $150,000 helping undocumented immigrants. • Orange County: $223,000 for LGBT youth services, $240,000 to an urban-planning firm focused on “race, social and healthy equity.” 

Local officials pushed back – those youth contracts were recommended by citizen task forces and the urban-planning tool was required by voters. 

November 7, 2025 – The Final Reveal 

CFO Ingoglia returned to Orlando with the completed FAFO audit results. 

City of Orlando: One of the Best in Florida 

• Total “wasteful/excessive” spending: $22,332,519 

• That’s only 4.32% above what DOGE says the budget should be. 

• Orlando could lower its millage rate by 0.40 mills and still deliver police, fire, parks, and roads at current levels. 

For the owner of a $350,000 home, that’s roughly $140 saved per year. 

Ingoglia praised Orlando, saying the city proved local governments can keep spending “relatively in check” compared to “big, bloated” budgets elsewhere.

Mayor Dyer responded: “For more than a decade we have maintained the same millage rate, balanced every budget, and last year alone invested $406 million in police and fire – more than we collected in property taxes.” 

Orange County 

The earlier $190 million “excess” finding stood. No new subpoenas or criminal referrals were announced, meaning the state either found no smoking gun on tampering or chose not to pursue it further. 

Statewide, DOGE now claims more than $1.5 billion in wasteful spending identified across cities, counties, and universities. 

Meanwhile, DOGE Took on Florida’s Public Universities (Nov. 2025) 

The same week, DOGE released its review of all 12 state universities: 

• New College of Florida spent $83,000 per student – highest in the state. • UF came in second at $45,800 per student. 

• UCF was the most efficient at roughly $12,000 per student and $47,000 per degree. The state has already canceled or repurposed $33 million in university DEI grants. 

So What Does This All Mean for You in 2026 and Beyond? 

The Good News 

Orlando’s strong report card shows responsible leaders can grow a city, serve 75 million visitors a year, and still keep spending mostly in line. If the city adopts even half of DOGE’s suggestions, your property taxes could stay flat or drop next year – real money back in your pocket. 

The Caution Flag 

Orange County’s bigger $190 million number highlights the real pressures: more tourists than residents on any given day, state-mandated costs, and competitive pay to keep deputies and firefighters from leaving for Georgia or Texas. Cut too deep and you risk longer 911 wait times or crumbling roads. 

The Bottom Line for Your Wallet 

• A typical Orlando homeowner could save $100–$200 a year if the city follows DOGE’s advice. 

• Orange County homeowners could see even larger relief – or deeper service impacts – depending on how leaders respond. 

Your Next Steps – Because This Isn’t Over

1. Review the 2026 budget (available on Orange County Government website). Did Orlando trim that 0.40 mills? Did Orange County fight the $190 million label or find savings? Watch the 2nd budget hearing on September 18, 2025 HERE.

2. Ask your commissioner or council member: “What changes are you making because of the DOGE audit?” 

3. Keep an eye on the 2026 ballot – Ingoglia and DeSantis are pushing major property-tax relief measures statewide. 

This wasn’t just political theater. Real auditors looked at real dollars. Real findings came out. And now real decisions are coming that will hit your tax bill next August. 

At the end of the day, the power still belongs to you – the voter, the taxpayer, the family trying to make ends meet in Central Florida. Stay informed. Speak up. Your wallet is counting on it.WATCH THE J & WASHINGTON PODCAST EPISODE “FLORIDA DOGE AUDIT RESULTS”

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Sean King is the J & Washington LLC Media Network Director and a 2025 UCF graduate. Sean high-visibility content is featured in J & Washington's "The Blog" including his ongoing coverage of the Florida DOGE Audits. Sean is known for conducting man-on-the-street interviews and contributes to J & Washington's podcast episodes discussing current political and social events. Additionally, Sean created J & Washington's newest SEO and social media strategy targeting a younger, Central Florida demographic for the firm's ongoing growth initiatives.