John Hawley
May 19, 2025
Jacksonville’s decision to invite a DeSantis led Florida DOGE review of its finances has sparked a contentious debate over fiscal transparency, political motives, and the future of local control.
In a 13-5 vote, the Jacksonville City Council on May 13 approved a resolution asking Governor Ron DeSantis’ Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to review the city’s finances. Supporters hail the move as a voluntary step toward greater transparency and accountability. Detractors warn it’s a political maneuver that could erode local control and deepen partisan divides.
The resolution, sponsored by At-Large Councilmember Terrance Freeman, invites DOGE to conduct a sweeping review of Jacksonville and Duval County’s budget expenditures. The agency—an initiative of Governor DeSantis modeled after a federal program launched under President Trump and Elon Musk—is tasked with identifying waste, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement across Florida’s local governments.
“This simply allows another layer of transparency to be added to the process,” Freeman told colleagues, emphasizing that DOGE’s findings will be nonbinding. “We discuss. We debate. We choose if we want to move forward or not.”
Yet the political and fiscal implications are far from simple.
Potential Fiscal Benefits
Proponents of the DOGE review, including most of the Republican-controlled council, argue it could bring fiscal dividends:
Unbiased Recommendations: A fresh, outside perspective may reveal structural inefficiencies overlooked by internal audits or council budget reviews.
No Direct Cost to City: Freeman says DOGE will rely on publicly available records and documents already in the city’s possession, suggesting minimal administrative burden or cost.
Support for Local Reformers: Findings could bolster initiatives by Mayor Donna Deegan and Councilmember Ron Salem, who are each pursuing separate efficiency drives through technology pilots and the local "Duval DOGE" task force.
Improved Budget Clarity: Detailed analysis of contracts, departmental spending, and service metrics could better inform upcoming budget deliberations and future tax policy.
In theory, the review could serve as a tool for performance-based budgeting—a long-sought goal of local fiscal watchdogs.
Possible Fiscal Downsides
Critics, including four Democratic councilmembers and Republican Matt Carlucci, see greater risk than reward. Their objections are grounded in both budgetary logic and constitutional principle:
Duplication of Effort: Jacksonville already undergoes an annual independent audit, as required by its City Charter, and maintains internal oversight through the Council Auditor’s Office.
Hidden Costs: While labeled a no-cost endeavor, the administrative lift—responding to document requests, preparing materials, and coordinating with state officials—may consume staff time and resources better spent locally.
State Interference in Local Budgeting: Opponents view the DOGE request as a voluntary surrender of Home Rule, inviting Tallahassee into a process traditionally managed by local leaders.
Politicized Oversight: Councilmember Jimmy Peluso decried the initiative as “sickening,” pointing to its origins in partisan efforts at the state and federal levels. He warned of a slippery slope: “This is just another way to try to politicize this city.”
Councilmember Rahman Johnson added, “Efficiency starts with listening. Let us work together here in Jacksonville—without inviting outsiders into our house.”
Transparency or Tension? The Broader Implications
The DOGE review comes at a politically sensitive time. Mayor Deegan, a Democrat, is preparing to release her 2025–26 budget this summer. The state of Florida has yet to pass its own budget amid ongoing conflict between the legislature and DeSantis, raising questions about Tallahassee’s bandwidth and motivation for reviewing local governments.
Meanwhile, the city's own efficiency efforts are underway. Deegan has rolled out a new AI budgeting pilot and launched a public-facing budget transparency dashboard. Salem’s local Duval DOGE committee continues to explore capital project delays and spending trends. Supporters of the state-level DOGE argue these efforts aren't mutually exclusive.
“Anybody who thinks that’s bad and claims to want to be a good steward for the taxpayers—you, my friend, are the one playing politics,” Freeman retorted during the council debate.
Still, the symbolism is unmistakable: inviting the governor’s office to scrutinize a city led by a political rival is bound to generate headlines—and potential headaches.
Looking Ahead
If the Florida DOGE team finds inefficiencies or mismanagement, the political consequences could be significant for both Mayor Deegan and the council ahead of 2026 elections. If the review turns up nothing new, critics may claim vindication—and question why council outsourced its own oversight powers.
Either way, the city’s fiscal house is now under dual inspection—internally by local leaders, and externally by a state initiative steeped in both promise and controversy.
As Councilmember Carlucci warned, “Be careful what you ask for. You might just get it.”
