Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Blaise Ingoglia announced this week that his Florida Agency of Fiscal Oversight has found $59 million in "excessive, wasteful spending" in Flagler County's budget while speaking at a news conference in Palm Coast.
According to the CFO, Flager's budget increase of 119.2% is the highest reviewed by the Florida Agency of Fiscal Oversight (FAFO) since the agency's establishment in December 2025.
Flagler County is located in Northeast Florida, and includes Palm Coast.
“The budget increase we have seen in Flagler County represents the single largest increase we have seen out of the 16 spending reviews [we] have conducted so far, and it should concern every single taxpayer in this county," Ingoglia said. Taxpayers deserve to know exactly where their money is going, and they deserve the confidence that [it] is being spent wisely. It’s the hard-working taxpayers who are left footing the bill for this reckless and irresponsible spending."
"This isn’t a partisan issue; this is about protecting taxpayers, plain and simple. Time and time again these spending reviews are proving to us that meaningful property tax reform isn’t just possible, it’s necessary," Ingoglia added.
In addition, the FAFO found Flagler County's General Fund Budget grew by $110,241,921 between Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-2020 and FY 2025-2026. The agency also found the budget increased by $3,385.39 for each new person entering the county and $13,541.56 for a family of four.
Moreover, Flagler County added 80 full-time administrative employees to complement its 32,564 population increase over the past six years.
The FAFO also noted the county could implement a 1.40 reduction in millage without hindering critical services to its residents.
Per the agency's recommendations, Flagler homeowners could save the following:
- A taxable home value of $400,000 would save $558 per year
- A taxable home value of $500,000 would save $698 per year
- A taxable home value of $600,000 would save $838 per year
"Nowadays, being a homeowner in Florida seems more unattainable than ever. Property tax reform is urgently needed for hard-working Floridians who want to purchase their first home," Americans for Prosperity State Director Skyler Zander said. "I am grateful for CFO Ingoglia’s mission to expose excessive spending and fight for meaningful property tax relief.”
Flagler County's audit is the latest probe for CFO Ingoglia, which has included Duval County (Jacksonville) and Orange County (Orlando) since assuming the position in July 2025. Other audits include Alachua County, Broward County, and Seminole County.
Overall, Ingoglia's oversight tour has uncovered $2.08 billion in excessive and wasteful spending in the General Fund Budget over the past two fiscal years across 16 counties and municipalities in the state.
