Citrus County Chamber calls out ‘optics’ of Jeff Kottkamp’s appearance with CFO

The Citrus County Chamber of Commerce is blasting Florida TaxWatch President Jeff Kottkamp for his appearance this week alongside Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia during a news conference critical of Citrus County spending.

Josh Wooten, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Citrus Chamber, said in a letter that Kottkamp just three months ago lauded Citrus for its budgetary prowess.

On Tuesday, Kottkamp stood with Rep. JJ Grow and Ingoglia at a Lecanto lectern, as the CFO said Citrus County is taxing citizens $39 million more than it needs, based on six years of budget growth relative to inflation and population increases. Four Commissioners were in the front row, hearing it for the first time.

Wooten, a former Citrus County Commissioner, said Kottkamp’s appearance with Ingoglia suggests political overtones.

“Florida TaxWatch has long been respected as a nonpartisan, independent voice for taxpayers. Our Chamber has supported that mission for years,” the letter to Kottkamp states. “The optics of this appearance, however, raise questions about that independence and create confusion for those of us who rely on your analysis as objective and data-driven.”

Kottkamp, a former Lieutenant Governor, addressed attendees of Citrus County Legislative Days in Tallahassee. Kottkamp said TaxWatch ranked Citrus County favorably on property tax growth over 10 years, well below the state average.

“When you addressed more than 100 Citrus County business and community leaders during our Legislative Day in Tallahassee this past January, your remarks reflected positively on our county’s fiscal stewardship,” Wooten wrote. “For that reason, it was surprising to see you appear alongside CFO Ingoglia as he publicly criticized our local elected officials for alleged inefficiencies.”

Kottkamp assured Wooten that his opinion of Citrus County hasn’t changed.

“When we were contacted by the CFO’s office and asked to attend the meeting, I was surprised to learn he was doing an event in Citrus County,” Kottkamp wrote to Wooten in response. “I have been very careful not to criticize local government officials. My comments at this particular event were brief.”

Indeed, Kottkamp said little directly about Citrus County during his appearance with Ingoglia. He said the county’s budget outpaced population and inflation by 16% over 10 years.

“You have every right to question how your money is being spent,” he told a handful of Citrus County Republicans who were invited to the news conference. “That’s exactly what the CFO is doing on behalf of every taxpayer in Florida. We should be grateful for this effort.”

Wooten, who did not attend, mentioned that Citrus is one of only two counties without a local-option sales tax; the County Commission is considering a referendum.

“Public statements suggesting mismanagement, without full context, risk undermining community trust at a time when thoughtful solutions are needed,” Wooten wrote.

“We are all about efficiency and opportunities that cut waste, but the process that the CFO is employing is overtly political and obviously is not a detailed audit. In my opinion, your presence there lends credibility to a flawed process.”