Pinellas County partners with Hillsborough to establish DOGE oversight committee.
An increasing number of local governments in Florida are inviting state oversight into their financial operations, with recent developments from Tampa Bay’s county commissioners highlighting this trend. In a significant move, the Pinellas County Commissioners voted 6-1 to pursue a resolution aimed at affirming their intent to collaborate with the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to implement best practices and reduce unnecessary expenditures. This decision follows Hillsborough County’s similar initiative the previous week.
The establishment of DOGE, modeled after a federal spending review mandated by former President Donald Trump, reflects an ongoing effort by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to enhance government efficiency through rigorous oversight. In February, DeSantis issued an executive order to promote a thorough efficiency review under the same name adopted at the federal level.
During a recent meeting, Hillsborough County Commissioners formally voted to set up a liaison committee and sent a letter to the governor’s office seeking to work with DOGE. This committee is intended to facilitate local engagement with state initiatives and oversight.
While the DOGE resolution was not initially on the agenda for the Pinellas County meeting, Board Chairperson Brian Scott introduced it during new business discussions. Scott expressed optimism regarding the anticipated requests for documentation from DOGE and characterized the potential interaction with the state as beneficial for the county. He articulated the importance of formally communicating to the governor’s team that Pinellas is prepared to cooperate.
Commissioner Dave Eggers echoed Scott’s sentiments, welcoming scrutiny and the chance to improve operational efficiency. He expressed no concerns regarding oversight, provided it is constructive and does not impose unnecessary local governance restrictions.
However, not all commissioners agreed with the resolution. Commissioner René Flowers registered her dissent, stating that while reevaluating county practices is worthwhile, a formal resolution was unnecessary as they were already engaged in efficiency reviews.
Similarly, during Hillsborough County’s discussions, a debate erupted over the need for a dedicated committee. Commissioner Harry Cohen, the sole dissenting voice on the matter, acknowledged the importance of identifying governmental waste but contended that establishing a specialized committee was unwarranted.
Governor DeSantis has shown support for these local initiatives, publicly thanking Hillsborough County and other governments for their commitments to collaborating with DOGE, and encouraging residents to motivate their local representatives to engage in similar efforts to enhance fiscal accountability and savings for Floridians.
As local governments deepen their partnership with the state, the implications for public spending efficiency and accountability are anticipated to unfold in the coming months.
