Central Florida News

Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia Calls Out $200 Million in “Excessive Spending” in Orange County Budget

Published

1 year ago

September 15, 2025

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia has sharply criticized Orange County’s General Fund Budget, calling nearly $200 million in spending “excessive and wasteful.” Ingoglia says that after accounting for population growth and inflation, the county’s current budget exceeds what is necessary, and he is urging officials to cut waste and provide immediate property tax relief to residents.

CFO Ingoglia Highlights Taxpayer Impact
“This money belongs in the hands of taxpayers, not bureaucrats who have proven fiscally irresponsible,” said Ingoglia. “Orange County is wastefully spending nearly $200 million in taxpayer funds, and it is high time that residents are armed with the information to hold their locally elected officials accountable. Floridians are tired of this misuse of tax dollars.”

Florida TaxWatch Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jeff Kottkamp supported the CFO’s call for accountability, stating, “Safeguarding taxpayer dollars should be a top concern for local governments. We are proud to work with CFO Ingoglia to highlight wasteful spending that leads to higher taxes for Floridians.”

Local Business Leaders Support Call for Efficiency
Nathan Ducote, Partner and Chief Strategic Officer at MassiveMAKE, praised the focus on efficiency: “Central Florida has everything it needs to lead the nation in advanced manufacturing and 3D printing. CFO Ingoglia’s focus on efficiency in government creates a transparent and affordable environment where businesses can thrive and talent can stay.”

Jerry Pierce, Founder of Restaurant Equipment World, echoed the sentiment: “As an Orange County resident, property taxes have grown exponentially for me and my employees. I am grateful to CFO Ingoglia for his commitment to keeping Florida affordable and cutting government waste.”

Orange County Budget Growth and Staffing Concerns
Since 2020, Orange County’s General Fund Budget has increased by $559 million, a 53.6% rise, while the population has grown by only 79,000 residents. This equates to a $7,074 budget increase per new resident, or $28,296 for a family of four.

Additionally, the county has added 661 new employees, with average local government wages increasing 24.5% over four years—outpacing both private sector and state government growth. CFO Ingoglia estimates that residents are overtaxed by $148 per person and that the county could reduce the millage rate by 0.86 mils without affecting services.

Ingoglia plans to continue identifying wasteful spending across the state as part of his role as Florida’s Chief Financial Officer.

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Central Florida News

USF Comes Up Short at UTSA as Late Touchdown Seals 31-24 Loss

Published

5 days ago

October 9, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — USF running back D.J. Crowther (5) crosses the goal line on a 15-yard touchdown run to open the scoring against UTSA Thursday night at the Alamodome. Photo by Stephen Galvin / University of South Florida Athletics.

South Florida held an early advantage and reclaimed the lead late, but UTSA’s second-half execution proved to be the difference Thursday night at the Alamodome.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida gave itself a chance to steal a road win Thursday night, but UTSA answered when it mattered most, defeating the Bulls 31-24 at the Alamodome.

USF struck first behind D.J. Crowther, who broke through for a 15-yard touchdown run to give the Bulls an early advantage. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. helped keep South Florida’s offense moving throughout the night as the Bulls continued to respond whenever UTSA threatened to take control.

USF stayed within reach from start to finish, but the second half belonged to a UTSA offense that consistently found a way to finish drives.

UTSA Finds Its Rhythm

Running back A’Marion Peterson became the difference-maker for the Roadrunners, finishing with 92 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

UTSA scored on every second-half possession, gradually shifting momentum away from a USF team that continued to battle offensively. The Roadrunners leaned heavily on their ground game while keeping the Bulls from building any sustained separation.

(more…)

Central Florida News

Commissioner Uribe Announces New Date for Hispanic Heritage Festival Due to Weather

Published

5 days ago

October 9, 2026

FNN NEWS

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Commissioner Uribe announced that the Hispanic Heritage Festival has been rescheduled due to weather conditions. The event will now take place Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon at Cypress Grove Park, 290 Holden Ave., Orlando.

The festival will celebrate the rich history, cultures, traditions and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities through live music, dance performances, food and community resources.

Scheduled highlights include:

Live music by youth orchestra The Nucleus Orchestral.
Dance performances featuring Maria Saavedra of FusionFest with Huellas de Colombia, Unidos for Ecuador and Mexico Dansa.
Food from Zaza.
Community resources from 311 and other participants.

Join Commissioner Uribe and the community for a morning celebrating Hispanic and Latino heritage.

NEW DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
TIME: 9 a.m. to noon
LOCATION: Cypress Grove Park
ADDRESS: 290 Holden Ave., Orlando, FL 32839

Basketball

UPSHOT Announces Professional Women’s Basketball Franchise for Tampa Bay

Published

1 week ago

October 7, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

Jacksonville Waves battle at the rim against the Charlotte Crown during UPSHOT League action in Jacksonville. Photo by Nisey Spruill/FNN Sports.

New team will debut at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027 as fans help shape the franchise’s identity

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — UPSHOT League officially announced the arrival of professional women’s basketball in Tampa Bay, with the new franchise scheduled to begin play at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027.

UPSHOT Tampa branding unveiled as the league prepares for its inaugural 2027 season in Tampa Bay. Image courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.

Owner Morgan Busby introduced the vision behind bringing elite women’s basketball to the region, while Garland Cooper was announced as team president. UPSHOT Deputy Commissioner Taj McWilliams-Franklin also joined the launch alongside local leaders as the organization emphasized community involvement, fan experience and competitive excellence as core parts of the franchise.

FAN INVOLVEMENT: The Tampa franchise does not yet have an official team name. Fans are being invited to submit ideas and take part in helping shape the team’s identity ahead of its inaugural season. Season-ticket deposits and founding membership opportunities are also available.

UPSHOT Tampa President Garland Cooper speaks with media following the announcement of Tampa Bay’s new professional women’s basketball franchise. Photo courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.

Community outreach began immediately with a “Shoe a Day” initiative supporting young athletes in the Tampa Bay area. During media availability, Cooper also spoke about the importance of giving young girls an opportunity to see what is possible through professional women’s sports.

Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise and Advisory Board Chair Kathleen Shanahan were among the community leaders in attendance, highlighting the potential economic and social impact of adding another professional sports organization to the region.

INAUGURAL SEASON: UPSHOT Tampa is scheduled to tip off at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027, adding professional women’s basketball to an established Tampa Bay sports market that already includes the Buccaneers, Lightning and Rays.

The team name, branding and additional franchise details are expected to be announced as the organization continues building toward its first season.

– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com