Latest news with #local taxes
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis eyes Manatee County budget as DOGE efforts reach the local level
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis put Manatee County front and center on Thursday, July 24, in his effort to impose DOGE-styled, state scrutiny and potentially mandated budget cuts on local governments across the state. The governor touted his new state authority to audit local government spending as part of his push to reduce local property taxes for Florida residents during a press conference in Bradenton. DeSantis said his plan is to begin with local governments such as Manatee County that cooperate with state officials on the the reviews, but added his team is actively looking for legal means to force DOGE-like audits on local governments who resist the effort. He also talked about similar efforts within state agencies and Florida universities. DeSantis created the Florida State Department of Government Efficiency with an executive order in February and directed the task force to reduce government spending by auditing local governments, colleges and universities, modeled on the highly publicized effort at the federal level led by Elon Musk under President Donald Trump. He then worked with leaders in the Legislature to include authority for the Florida State Department of Government Efficiency to conduct DOGE examinations and oversight of local governments in this year's budget. His recent appointee as interim state Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia will lead the efforts. The legislation gives his Office of Policy and Budget the authority to review the spending of any local government over the last two years, targeting spending related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives; overspending, waste, fraud or abuse; and duplicative or redundant spending. Upon request, local governments must provide access to their personnel and budget experts, its physical premises and its data systems within seven business days. If they don't comply the state can issue $1,000 daily fines for each specific request. "Starting on July 31, our teams... will be using this new authority to conduct reviews of data systems, physical premises and personnel of counties and cities we're identifying as worthy of additional attention paid to spending, taxing and management practice. We'll be doing this through this new authority, which does include access to spending records. "We're here in Manatee County to announce that Manatee County will be the next subject of the DOGE examinations and audits with this newfound state authority," he said. "We've had a lot of feedback, a lot of concerned people who have asked us to take a look at this when they found out this was something that was in the budget." DeSantis eyes Manatee County budget first as DOGE efforts reach local government level Manatee County government is run by a board composed entirely of Republican commissioners who voted to go along with DOGE efforts earlier this year. The county is creating a citizens committee to also involve local residents who are keenly interested in the county budget in the process. Although commissioners largely agree with budget cutting efforts, the decision to start DOGE audits in Manatee also comes at a time of increased tension between local and state officials over their opposing stances on standards for development that could spill into the courtroom. But headed by commissioners who also appear intent on trimming the county budget, Manatee County was among the first Florida counties to agree to the financial review. They voted in May to create the citizen's advisory committee. More in Manatee: Manatee County approves sharp increase in impact fees for growth, angering developers DeSantis praised Manatee County for cutting its property tax rate in recent years, but said that concerns have been raised about county spending nonetheless. He said Manatee County tax receipts have gone up 86% over the past six fiscal years, amounting to $213 million in increased property tax collections, while the population has only grown by about 14%. "There is some dissonance there," DeSantis said. The governor also criticized Manatee County for "bogarting" a large sum of reserves, which he estimated at $734 million. "Look we run budget surpluses in Florida, we've maxed out the rainy day fund, but there's also a point at which we shouldn't just be bogarting money," DeSantis said. "We want to give back, we want to give back to taxpayers." DeSantis criticized local governments for taking advantage of increasing property values as a means for collecting more taxes from residents instead of lowering tax rates. "We do appreciate lower millage rates, and I know taxpayers do appreciate it, but you also have to look at where is that assessment going," he said. "There is a world where the millage rate being lower you still will pay more net taxes if they assess your property high enough." First-year Manatee County Commissioner Carol Felts told the Herald-Tribune that the board is ready to embrace calls for a trimmer budget. The board also recently voted to increase impact fees on new development as a way to offset the tax burden on local residents. "This is a new board, mostly, and we're just getting into our budget sessions," Felts said, referring to new members on the board from last year's elections. "We've proposed several things that fold into the governors mission, but we just haven't really had the chance to make those moves yet. So a lot of what we may be going through may be more of a reflection on our previous eight to 10 years because we haven't really had the chance to get in there and dig yet. "I think that if we focus on prioritizing we can fit our budget to first take care of our essentials, then take care of our promised concurrency, then look at what we need," she said. "If that means we have to cut on the niceties, I think we've got a public out there that says, 'I would rather have a safe road to drive on,' than say, 'My family was in a wreck on the way to a splash pad.'" Counties, cities, school boards and Florida's special districts collected more than $55 billion in property taxes last year – more than double what was collected in 2014. It's 46% higher than the amount taken in statewide just four years ago, state records show. While state Republican leaders have criticized increases in local spending, local governments cited key services such as law enforcement and fire protection, among others, for driving costs. This article includes material from USA TODAY Network archives. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announces DOGE audit for Manatee County Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Analysis finds devolved tax powers could add £4 billion for local services
Allowing councils to administer and retain taxes generated locally would boost funding for services by more than £4 billion in many areas and 'supercharge' economic growth, a new analysis suggests. The report argues that new fiscal arrangements which enable authorities to a proportion of revenue from income tax, stamp duty and the apprenticeship levy alongside a new tourist tax could prove transformational and support the delivery of the Government's priorities. The County Councils Network, which commissioned the report, stressed the proposals do not advocate tax rises and acknowledged that a process of redistributing tax revenue would need to be established to address regional variations in the amounts generated. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner recently said she wanted 'more push' towards fiscal devolution as part of the Government's pledge to transfer central decision making to local areas. The English Devolution White Paper published last year states that mayors could submit proposals for new powers, such as fiscal devolution, which the government is obliged to consider. The guidance recently published alongside the the Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill earlier this month stipulates that new strategic authorities can pilot devolved powers to make it 'easier to deepen devolution over time'. The 20 CCN councils, including top tier shire authorities and unitaries, serve about 45% of the population and contributed almost £390 billion in national tax receipts in 2022/23, the report said. This level of county revenues amounted to 44% of the revenue total for England of £891.3 billion, rising to 57% if London's contribution is not taken into account. This includes contributions of 62% in income tax and and 55% in VAT. The analysis found that expenditure in county areas totalled £273 billion, amounting to a net benefit to the exchequer of £113.6 billion a year. The report said allowing authorities to retain 'better than expected' income tax growth could raise £3.8 billion in county areas annually and would 'dramatically incentivise' local job creation. Retaining half of stamp duty on new homes could provide about £237 million and encourage councils to deliver more housing, the analysis showed, while a tourist tax set at £2 a night could generate about £209 million in extra annual revenue. If county and unitary councils were granted 10% of funds from the apprenticeship levy generated locally, councils could direct an estimated £120 million a year to skills and growth. The report concluded that these measures combined could raise about £4.4 billion in county areas, which equates to 10% of an average budget for these authorities, while nationally the figures are about £8.9 billion a year. Richard Roberts, CCN's economic growth spokesman, said the research 'warrants serious consideration from government and from existing mayors'. He added: 'There has never been a better time to consider empowering local areas with fiscal devolution and let's be clear: this is not about new taxes for local residents and businesses. It's about using existing taxes more effectively, allowing local areas who understand what's needed to drive growth to invest to that end. 'More pressingly, there is the shared local and central government need to increase growth, create jobs and build homes alongside the urgency to invest in local economic growth services and infrastructure. 'The potential revenue generated from the fiscal devolution options modelled in this report would be a game-changer for local areas, allowing them to invest in growth and incentivise areas to maintain productivity gains. 'Whilst there will still be a need for central government to a play a redistributive role to ensure equity across regions, we have long argued counties are the backbone of the economy. 'Now is the time for Government be bold and ambitious and think about unleashing the potential of counties.' London Councils, which represents the 32 boroughs in the capital, said authorities' current reliance on council tax and government grants perpetuates unsustainable financial stress. Claire Holland, chairwoman of London Councils, said: 'Devolving more fiscal powers to a local level is crucial for fixing this broken system and ending the crisis in council finances. 'With more autonomy and flexibility – such as powers to introduce an overnight accommodation levy – we would be in a much stronger position to respond to our communities' needs and encourage economic growth. 'London is the powerhouse of the UK economy, but still faces immense challenges around productivity, unemployment, and poverty, as well as an enormous £500 million funding gap in boroughs' budgets. 'Fiscal devolution could help us tackle these issues and maximise London's contribution to the country's future prosperity.'
