Hillsborough County Under Fire as State CFO Alleges $279 Million in 'Wasteful' Spending

Tensions are flaring in Hillsborough County after a stunning accusation from Florida’s top financial official.

State Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia publicly claimed the county has engaged in nearly $279 million of “excessive, wasteful spending.”

That explosive charge has ignited a firestorm, leaving residents questioning the massive growth in local government budgets and property tax collections.

According to Ingoglia's office, Hillsborough's general fund budget has surged by over 56% since fiscal year 2019.

He argues this growth far outpaces the rate of inflation and population increase during the same period.

“The taxpayers of this county should be outraged at the level of property taxes they are putting into the public coffers,” Ingoglia stated at a recent press conference in Brandon.

The CFO's team insists this alleged overspending should have been returned to taxpayers as property tax relief.

However, the state has so far offered no specific examples of what it considers “wasteful.”

This lack of detail has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders.

Hillsborough County officials were quick to defend their financial stewardship, pushing back against the state's claims.

They argue the increased spending has funded critical priorities for a rapidly growing county, including investments in public safety, transportation, and infrastructure.

County Commissioner Harry Cohen noted that without specifics, it's difficult to respond to the state's numbers, while defending the county's strong credit rating and wise investments.

This public battle places taxpayers squarely in the middle of a political showdown over fiscal management.

The debate raises fundamental questions about how Hillsborough should manage its finances as the region continues to expand.