Mayor Harvey Ward said Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia's claims that the city is raising its budget by $90 million a year is untrue.

In a July 11 letter directed to "County and Town Managers," Florida DOGE asked for an " enormous data set" for four years from 2021 to 2024.

The first two governments that appear to be up for the budget review are Broward County and the City of Gainesville. DeSantis specifically called out Broward for its property tax revenues that have ballooned by 50% over the last four years while its population rose just 5%, and he had another event later on July 22 in Gainesville.

Mayor Harvey Ward will cooperate with the state’s planned audit of the city’s spending, he said, but he “stands by” the city government’s efficiency.