Hillsborough responds to Florida's DOGE spending claims

Related video: Florida DOGE audits Hillsborough County

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia previously listed examples of “wasteful” spending in a news release last week.

Florida DOGE is an effort to get local government leaders to reduce or eliminate the property tax on permanent homes for residents.

The following day, St. Petersburg and Pinellas County government leaders pushed back by saying the CFO listed examples that didn’t involve money from the property tax.

Ingoglia also took aim at some expenditures in Hillsborough County involving more than $500,000 for workplace training resources and close to a million earmarked for vehicle allowance.

Republican Commissioner Joshua Wostel requested additional information from the County Administrator Bonnie Wise following the list of examples from the CFO.

Since then, the county administrator has forwarded answers to all commissioners.

As for an answer to the CFO’s concerns with the county funding “unconscious bias” training, Human Resourced Director Ivey martin issued this statement:

“Hillsborough County considers investment in the development of leaders a top priority. To support this, the Human Resources Department contracted with FranklinCovey to provide leaders with access to an interactive leadership development portal. This platform offers OnDemand courses, guided learning activities, and in-person training opportunities covering a wide range of topics. The portal contains more than 1,700 resources designed to enhance professional and leadership skills. Among these is an optional course on unconscious bias, which employees may choose to take along with many other offerings. The contract is for three years.”

As for concerns over spending when it comes to the county’s vehicle allowance, Chief Financial Administrator Tom Fesler issued this statement:

“Hillsborough County’s automobile allowance is implemented through an Administrative Directive (AD) that provides guidance and procedures to give employees a monthly stipend for using their own vehicle for transportation for County business. The policy covers employees who drive a minimum of 50 miles (on average) each month for County business. The allowance is the most efficient way to reimburse employees who use their personal vehicles for County business to cut down on administrative costs, including personnel and check distribution. The AD requires an annual certification from employees regarding the use of their vehicle on County business, and it also requires approvals from Department Directors. In the absence of the allowance, the County would reimburse employees on a per mile basis based on IRS guidelines and there would likely be the need to acquire and maintain additional County vehicles.”