The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners said Friday it is “unified” in disputing claims made by Florida’s Chief Financial Officer on Wednesday.
“Following a surprise visit by Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) this week and concerning comments about wasteful spending, a unified Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) respectfully dispute the CFO’s claims and invites the CFO to meet and resolve the matter in a manner that is productive for taxpayers,” the county said in a press release.
The release stated that county leaders “are confident that when the discrepancies with the material presented by the CFO are reconciled with independently audited financial records, Nassau County will not only meet an indexed threshold for a growing County as promoted by the CFO, but also serve as a model of responsible fiscal stewardship for counties across the State,” and noted “especially those transitioning from a rural community to an urban environment where new citizen-demanded services are being established.”
The chair of the board, Alyson McCullough said Blaise Ingoglia’s statements “are serious” and the board “owes it to Nassau County taxpayers to fully and transparently evaluate any claims of waste.”
“Accordingly, the Board of County Commissioners have requested that the CFO’s office provide the data and analytical methodology used to support these concerns, as the figures presented by the CFO are inconsistent with the independently audited financial records of Nassau County and these discrepancies must be fully explored,” McCullough said.
The press release listed several “potential discrepancies” the county “identified based on the material presented at Wednesday’s press conference” and “other concerning discrepancies.”
The release listed the following discrepancies:
• The material presented at Wednesday’s press conference stated that Nassau County’s Actual Spending totaled $196.3 million in FY2024/2025. According to independently audited financial records, Nassau County’s actual expenditure in FY2024/2025 was $150.6 million dollars.
• The State’s auditors did not account for the local referendum approved by 68% of Nassau County voters to fund a land acquisition program which was included in the $196.3 million General Fund budget.
• The State’s auditors failed to remove $10 million in reserves for emergencies and previously funded capital project fund balances from the new revenue calculation.
• There was no acknowledgment of the State-mandated expenses charged to local taxpayers that are not discretionary spending by the BOCC such as funding the court system and buildings, county jail facilities and operation, Supervisor of Elections, Medicaid, Department of Health, and similar operations.
The release includes comments from three other commissioners as well.
“State auditors did not meet — nor did they request to meet — with any Nassau County Commissioner, county staff member, or the County’s independently-elected Clerk regarding the CFO’s stated concerns about wasteful spending prior to Wednesday’s press conference,” said District 1 County Commissioner John Martin. “Nevertheless, as stewards of the public’s trust and resources, the Board of County Commissioners takes this matter seriously and invites the CFO and his staff to meet with us to discuss these concerns.”
“The Board of County Commissioners considers this an excellent opportunity to demonstrate to Florida’s CFO — as we have to our taxpayers — how transparent and fiscally responsible Nassau County continues to be,” said District 2 Commissioner A.M. “Hupp” Huppmann. “The County is confident that a detailed and transparent evaluation of its financial records will show that Nassau County not only meets the indexed threshold referenced by the CFO, but also serves as a model of responsible fiscal stewardship for counties across the state, especially rural counties transitioning to urban communities where new citizen-demanded services are being established.”
“County staff has been directed to work with the independently-elected Nassau County Clerk to prepare a detailed examination of the County’s financial records and address the concerns raised by the CFO,” said District 5 County Commissioner Klynt Farmer. “The analysis will be 100% transparent and will be placed online for citizens to review and draw their own independent conclusion.”