CFO: St. Petersburg Owes Property Owners $49 Million

Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia has accused St. Petersburg of overtaxing its residents by $49 million over the past six years.

 

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Ingoglia highlighted a 48% increase in the city's budget since 2019, despite a modest population growth of 11,500 residents.

 

He emphasized that this expansion equates to an additional $46,228 in spending for every new family of four.

 

Ingoglia criticized the city's fiscal management, stating, "It's concerning because government just thinks that you're an ATM. Zero fiscal constraint whatsoever."

 

He pointed out that St. Petersburg hired 371 new employees during this period, with only 65 being first responders, suggesting that the majority were administrative personnel.

 

According to Ingoglia, this hiring pattern indicates a preference for expanding bureaucracy over enhancing direct community services.

 

He also noted that residents with a $400,000 home could have saved $535 annually if not for the alleged over-taxation.

 

In response, Mayor Ken Welch stated that city officials are reviewing Ingoglia's claims and encouraged residents to consult the city's budget and property tax information for transparency.

 

Welch emphasized, "We will continue to operate based on facts, not conjecture."

 

Ingoglia's remarks are part of a broader initiative by the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to audit local government spending and promote fiscal accountability.

 

He urged voters to support property tax reforms in the upcoming November elections to address what he describes as systemic overspending at the local level.