ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County is currently under audit by the State Department of Government Efficiency due to allegations of excessive spending that burdens taxpayers.
A letter sent to Mayor Jerry Demings, received by Channel Nine, states that in the last five years, Orange County’s government has raised the financial load on property owners by $330 million yearly.
The letter, signed by “DOGE,” says, “Over the past five years, Orange County taxpayers have seen your government raise property-related costs by $330 million annually.”
Channel Nine has reached out to Mayor Demings for a comment on the audit and received this statement:
<i>“While we are in receipt of the Florida DOGE letter and plan to fully cooperate, there are several important factors the state should take into consideration. Since 2020, Orange County has grown by approximately 81,000 residents—a number greater than the population of 29 out of Florida’s 67 counties.</i>
<i>This substantial growth has placed increasing demands on public services across the county. For example, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has experienced a five-year increase of over 7% in calls for service. Likewise, Orange County Fire Rescue has seen call volumes rise by as much as 15% comparatively over the past five years. These trends highlight the mounting pressure on essential services as our community continues to expand."</i>
— Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings
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