Seminole County is firing back at Florida’s Chief Financial Officer over his accusations the county is overspending by $120 million annually, alleging that the county’s budget has risen primarily because of mandates from state government.

Seminole found itself in CFO Blaise Ingoglia’s crosshairs earlier this month after its board of county commissioners voted to raise its property tax rate, at a time when the CFO and Gov. Ron DeSantis are campaigning to abolish the tax, a major funding source for cities and counties.

Commissioners have also hiked the county gas tax by five centers per gallon sold and increased its public service tax on water and electric bills in the unincorporated areas from the current 4% to 10% starting Jan. 1.

Ingoglia, a Republican, bashed the county for excessive

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