Politics
Ron DeSantis, Blaise Ingoglia bash Jacksonville’s big-spending budget
With just days to go before a municipal budget must be passed, state officials are squawking about what they see as profligate spending in Jacksonville.
CFO Blaise Ingoglia told reporters on the Southside that Democratic Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration was devoting big bucks to questionable priorities. He said the budget, proposed to be $2 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, could be 10% leaner at least, with a haircut on property taxes to match.
Ingoglia’s Office, via the Florida Department of Government Efficiency initiative, took a look at Jacksonville’s books this Summer. The Spring Hill Republican offered a predictably scathing review, with a joke to start.
“I considered doing this presentation as a hologram. But I wanted to save taxpayers’ dollars,” Ingoglia quipped, citing a personal branding initiative of the Mayor that greets air travelers.
But the larger point was no joke at all. Rather, Ingoglia offered a “high-level” attempt to “illustrate how big government has gotten in the city of Jacksonville and how spending has gotten out of hand” in the city with a supermajority Republican City Council.
Ingoglia said property taxes have “skyrocketed” and that people “demand relief,” a timely declaration given that Council members who want a 1/8 mill cut were on hand Wednesday.
“Local governments are taking that money, expanding government, paying people in the bureaucracy some pretty big raises,” Ingoglia said.
Jacksonville, said Ingoglia, is “overtaxing and overspending … to the tune of almost $200 million.”
The problem didn’t start with Deegan’s election.
He said “big-government apologists” can “deflect,” but over the last five years, four of which were under Republican Mayor Lenny Curry, the overage could be as high as the “$230-$240 million range … excessive and definitely wasteful.”
Yet while big spending is a “Republican and Democratic problem,” Ingoglia says Deegan’s spending is on “steroids.”
Since Fiscal Year 2019-20, Ingoglia said the General Fund budget is up more than 50%, “an astounding number” that “outstrips wage and population growth” for a population increase of under 57,000 people, equating to $12,000-plus per person, with 646 city employees hired, or one for every 88 new residents.
“Those are obnoxious numbers,” Ingoglia said.
Salaries for city workers are up nearly 24% over the last four years, a number boosted by raises for first responders among others.
All told, Ingoglia believes property tax can be cut by 1.19 million (much more than the 1/8 mill the City Council wants to cut), and the city wouldn’t have to “skip a beat” in cutting the “reckless, bloated budget.”
Ahead of Ingoglia’s press conference, Gov. Ron DeSantis said the city had room to cut as well, and likewise couldn’t resist Deegan’s doppelganger as an example of fiscal waste.
“I do know they spent tens of thousands of dollars to create a hologram of the Mayor to put at Jacksonville International Airport. Do you want to pay property taxes to fund that? I mean, probably not, I think most people would say,” the Governor said in Apalachicola.
Jacksonville’s fiscal picture indeed is bleak.
Truth in Accounting reported a per capita debt of nearly $10,000 for every person in the city, which puts Jacksonville 60th out of 75 cities ranked.
But without property taxes, it could be worse.
“Public safety expenses, which account for 53% of total governmental costs, rose by $418.1 million adding financial strain. Property taxes, the largest revenue source, remain crucial to Jacksonville’s fiscal health.”
As Redfin notes, Jacksonville property taxes went up 60% between 2019 and 2024, roughly double the country’s overall rate of increase during the same five-year period.
But that money doesn’t defray debt, legacy costs, or questionable decisions forged in bipartisan consensus.
Pension problems are also an issue. The Tributary notes that the Police and Fire Pension Fund is $3 billion in debt and is just 44% funded. As of 2023, the General Employees’ Pension Fund was nearly $1.4 billion in debt.
Additionally, the city is moving to put police and fire in the Florida Retirement System, which could add more than $26.5 million a year to outflows starting in two years.
But there’s also stadium spending.
The Mayor and the Council agreed to devote five years of a half-cent sales tax which was slated to be repurposed to retiring that legacy defined benefit pension debt, with the city pleading with Tallahassee to allow that back in 2017, to going in 50/50 with multibillionaire Shad Khan in renovating the Jaguars’ stadium, at a cost of $775 million to taxpayers.
“The stadium and all that funding is a discussion the administration needs to have with policymakers,” Ingoglia said, dodging a reporter’s question.
While Ingoglia says his math accounts for first responder raises, public safety splashes are a big part of the problem in the city.
Deegan declined an interview request, but defended her “smart, responsible budget” in a prepared statement, noting that the city has “the lowest property tax rate of any major city in Florida” and saying Ingoglia “largely ignored the reasons for growth.”
“Our fiscal responsibility is recognized by the leading ratings agencies, and our investments in public safety and infrastructure are creating a high quality of life, which is the reason we have the fastest growing population in Florida. Our police and fire unions, business community, and working families across the city all agree that Jacksonville’s millage rate should remain where it is, so that we can continue to invest in our people.”
Ingoglia will be at City Hall again Thursday, Deegan said, and she would like to meet with him. Last time she offered, the request was rejected though.
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Former House Speaker Paul Renner is formalizing his push for the Governor’s Mansion with a new organizing arm focused on women voters.
Renner’s campaign just announced the creation of a statewide steering committee for its “Women for Renner Coalition,” assembling dozens of conservative activists, educators, business leaders and faith-based advocates to amplify women’s voices supporting his gubernatorial bid.
The coalition, the campaign said, is designed to mobilize women across political and professional lines around issues. Among them: parental rights, public safety, faith, economic opportunity and what the campaign describes as “principled leadership.”
Renner said in a statement Tuesday that the coalition will serve as both a values-driven and operational component of his campaign.
“Women are the heart and voice of families and communities,” Renner said. “I am honored to have the growing support of strong, dedicated female leaders that will ensure their concerns remain front and center — especially when it comes to protecting faith, American exceptionalism, parental rights, a prosperous economy, and defending the principles of freedom that guide us.”
The “Women for Renner Coalition” will function as an internal organizing network, encouraging women across Florida to share personal stories, engage voters and advocate on key campaign issues. The campaign said the group will also work to elevate women’s perspectives in policymaking and community engagement.
Adriana Renner, the candidate’s wife, said she has seen her husband’s commitment to families and praised the coalition as a vehicle for advancing what the campaign calls a “Florida First agenda.”
“I know his heart and his dedication to serving Florida’s families runs deep,” she said in a statement.
Several conservative activists and former officials offered endorsements through the announcement, praising Renner’s record on parental rights, medical freedom and opposition to federal overreach.
Nancy Peek McGowan, who held prominent roles in past campaigns of Gov. Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlighted Renner’s background as a U.S. Navy veteran, former state prosecutor and University of Florida law graduate.
“As the former State Chairwoman for ‘Women for DeSantis,” she said, “I can say with certainty, Paul Renner is the only authentic conservative running for Governor with a lifetime record to prove it.”
Mary Flynn O’Neill, Executive Director of America’s Future, said Renner has exhibited “steadfast leadership to protect the ideals that matter most to Floridians.”
“Paul Renner has consistently championed the principles that define our nation — faith, freedom, and the enduring strength of the American family,” she said. “His leadership reflects a deep respect for the values that unite our communities and guide Florida forward.
The steering committee itself includes more than 40 members from across the state, ranging from local school board officials and former legislators to nonprofit executives, physicians and student activists.
They include Wendy Biddle, educator and activist; Regina Brown, Realtor and President of Transforming Florida; Lourdes Castillo, businesswoman and conservative activist; Virginia Cortes, nonprofit executive; Ann Dugger, former Executive Director of the Justice Coalition; Maureen France, conservative activist and former Chair of Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana Florida; Mara Frazier, educator and conservative activist; Christi Griner, patient advocate and former state leader for Concerned Women of America; Jenna Hague, business leader and political activist; Mary Lou Hendry, pro-life advocate; Stephanie Jacobson, pro-life advocate; Charlotte Joyce, Duval County School Board member; Debbie Joyce, business leader and conservative activist; Jill Kiley, health freedom advocate; Bailey Kuykendoll, health freedom advocate; Lori Long, business leader and Central Florida community activist; Zarai Maza, CEO of Guardians of Human Rights Foundation; Aimee Villela-McBride, Executive Director of Global Wellness Forum; Aislynn Thomas-McDonald, lawyer and conservative advocate; Nancy Peek McGowan, former co-Chair of the DeSantis gubernatorial campaign and Rubio campaign grassroots leader; Kate Morales, student activist; Karyn Morton, leader of the Republican Liberty Caucus, co-founder of the Duval Trump Club, and former Duval County GOP Chair and Committeewoman; Andrea Marconi Nasteli, physician and grassroots advocate; Becky Nathanson, education activist; Mary Flynn O’Neill, Executive Director of America’s Future; Lindsay Randall, education leader and advocate; Adriana Renner; Miriam Ramirez, physician and former state Senator of Puerto Rico; Isabelle Sala, educator; Ginger Soud, former Jacksonville City Council Chair and Duval County co-Chair of Trump for President; Cyndi Stevenson, former state Representative; Patti Sullivan, parental rights advocate; Ann Vandersteel, radio show host and conservative activist.
The launch comes as Florida’s 2026 Governor’s race begins to take clearer shape. Notable Republicans lining up to succeed DeSantis, who faces term limits, include U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and investment executive James Fishback.
Two high-profile Democrats, former U.S. Rep. David Jolly and ex-Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, are also running.
DeSantis hasn’t yet weighed in on the contest, which Lt. Gov. Jay Collins has hinted at entering.
The Florida Realtors PAC is backing Bill Poteet in the race for House District 82, adding the powerful real estate group’s support to his bid for the Southwest Florida seat.
The political arm of Florida Realtors cited Poteet’s professional background, community involvement and familiarity with regional issues. Poteet is a Realtor, small-business owner and longtime resident of the district.
“As a REALTOR, small-business owner and longtime resident of southwest Florida, the citizens of House District 82 would be hard-pressed to find a more effective representative for their area than Bill Poteet,” said Marilyn Pearson-Adams, Chair of the Florida Realtors PAC Trustees.
“He is incredibly active in his community, serving in leadership positions in numerous local and non-profit organizations, and his knowledge as a REALTOR has given him a deep understanding of the issues facing the region. He would be an outstanding addition to the Florida House of Representatives.”
Florida Realtors PAC routinely weighs in on legislative races across the state, supporting candidates it views as aligned with property rights, economic growth and housing affordability. Endorsements from the group can carry significant weight, particularly in districts where real estate and development play a central role in the local economy.
Republican Rep. Lauren Melo currently represents HD 82, but is seeking a Senate seat in 2026.
Rancher Liesa Priddy and Hugo Vargas are also competing in the Republican Primary. Melo has backed Priddy as her preferred successor.
Priddy is leading the field in fundraising, with around $151,000 raised.
Poteet, meanwhile, has collected more than $33,000 via his campaign account and his political committee, Friends of Bill Poteet. Vargas has raised almost $22,000 through his account and his political committee, Friends of Hugo Vargas.
Democratic candidate Arthur Boyer has also filed for the race.
HD 82 covers a swath of Southwest Florida, including Hendry County and parts of Collier County.
Paul Renner campaign launches ‘Women for Renner Coalition’ with steering committee
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