August 12, 2025

Florida Auditors Begin Financial Audit of Orlando

News Summary

Auditors from Florida’s Department of Governmental Efficiency have started a financial audit of Orlando due to concerns over rising property taxes. Mayor Buddy Dyer confirmed the audit, which will assess various financial transactions, staff salaries, and city equity initiatives. This initiative follows a recent audit of Orange County and is part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ efforts to identify wasteful spending in municipal budgets. The audit will take about two days and is set to examine key financial data amidst Orlando’s significant increase in property tax collections.

Orlando – Auditors from Florida’s Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) have commenced an audit of the city’s finances this week amid concerns over rising property taxes. The auditing team arrived at Orlando City Hall on Monday, where city staff prepared approximately 27,000 files for thorough review.

Mayor Buddy Dyer confirmed the audit, which aims to evaluate thousands of pages of financial transactions, staff salaries, and city equity initiatives. As of midday on the first day of the audit, the DOGE team had not requested further data or interviews with staff or the mayor, although such requests may be made as the audit progresses.

This audit follows a similar review of Orange County that concluded the previous week. These audits are part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ initiative designed to identify wasteful spending within municipal budgets across Florida.

The letter detailing the audit was received by Dyer on July 30, indicating that the audit would take approximately two days and focus on around 50 different data points. Key areas under scrutiny include salary data, contracts exceeding $10,000, and expenditures associated with the city’s Equity, Multicultural Affairs, and Hispanic Office for Local Assistance.

Orlando has experienced a remarkable rise in property tax collections, which surged by 55% over the past five years, with the property tax rate remaining unchanged. The increase in property tax collections has amounted to over $120 million from 2020 to 2025, significantly outpacing both inflation and population growth in the area. Mayor Dyer acknowledged that increasing property values have contributed to these budgeted property tax collections, which assist in covering the rising costs of police and fire department services. The city is also planning to build three new fire stations in recently annexed areas.

City Commissioner Shan Rose emphasized the city’s commitment to defending its equity initiatives and underscored the importance of preserving community values. Although Rose has not personally spoken with the DOGE audit team, she plans to advocate for the city’s equity initiatives during the audit process, highlighting the significance of these programs amidst financial scrutiny.

City officials maintain that Orlando is a “prudent, well-run city government” characterized by established internal audits. The current DOGE audit includes monitoring city contracts, personnel compensation, transfers of funding, and programs aimed at addressing homelessness, such as the $58 million Accelerate Orlando initiative.

The DOGE audit is particularly attentive to potential excessive spending issues and concerns regarding property tax rates in Orlando. The outcome of this investigation remains pending, and it could have significant implications for funding and operations within the city. State CFO Jimmy Patronis has noted that the investigation addresses alleged excessive taxing and spending, totaling $120 million over the past five years.

The final report from the audit is expected to be completed within 60 days, with Orlando officials ensuring complete cooperation with DOGE’s requirements, having promptly provided all necessary documents for review. As the deadline for the audit approaches, the city remains on alert for its findings and their potential impact on local governance.

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Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE ORLANDO WRITER

ORLANDO STAFF WRITER The ORLANDO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOrlando.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Orlando, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, Megacon Orlando, and Central Florida Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Orlando Economic Partnership and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando, plus leading businesses in leisure and hospitality that power the local economy such as Walt Disney World Resort, AdventHealth, and Universal Orlando. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.

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