State officials have requested detailed financial and administrative records from Miami-Dade County as part of a broader review of local government spending directed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
In a letter dated Aug. 4, representatives from the Governor’s Office, the Florida Department of Financial Services, and the Office of Policy and Budget outlined dozens of information requests related to the county’s contracts, employee compensation, property management, grantmaking, and training programs. The request was sent to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and is part of the governor’s newly established Division of Governmental Oversight and Efficiency, known as DOGE.
The letter citesgrowth in Miami-Dade’s revenues in recent years, including a 29% increase in property tax collections and a 56% rise in food and beverage tax receipts between fiscal years 2020-21 and 2023-24. State officials said those increases totaled nearly $3 billion in additional revenue over that period.
Despite the revenue growth, the state raised concerns about a projected $400 million budget gap announced by the county. Officials asked for a response by Aug. 13 and said additional on-site access to systems and personnel may be requested. The letter also states that financial penalties may apply if the county does not comply.
The document includes more than 50 separate requests covering multiple areas of county operations. Among them are all policies governing the mayor’s authority to award contracts, the underlying budget allocations for contracts exceeding $75,000, and the pricing justifications for those awards. It also seeks payroll data, including gross wages, bonuses, overtime, and total compensation for county employees, as well as documentation on pay raises and department-wide salary changes dating back to 2019.
State officials are also reviewing county practices related to inventory management, real estate leases, and the purchase or sale of public property. The letter requests recent appraisals, lease terms, fair market assessments, and any documentation used to evaluate whether specific transactions were in the county’s best interest.
Additional sections focus on grant awards, climate-related purchases, and transportation infrastructure. The state is seeking records related to electric vehicle acquisitions, solar systems, carbon credits, and any training tied to climate initiatives. It also asks for data on the cost and rationale for traffic calming measures, bike lanes, and pedestrian projects.
The letter was signed by Eric Soskin, a senior advisor to the governor and DOGE team lead; Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia; and Office of Policy and Budget Director Leda Kelly.
