By GARETT VALCOURT
During its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 1, the Holmes County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to direct the county attorney to draft and submit a formal request for a financial audit by the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The motion was introduced by Commissioner Brandon Newsom and approved by the full board.
The DOGE audit, offered by Governor Ron DeSantis, is intended to assess local government efficiency, spending transparency, and identify potential cost-saving measures. Holmes County now joins Bay and Walton Counties, both of which have also agreed to participate in the audit process.
According to information released by the Governor’s Office, the DOGE audits utilize artificial intelligence and other tools to analyze county operations and expenditures. The objective is to identify inefficiencies, reduce unnecessary spending, and review the structure of local government budgets.
Governor DeSantis stated that his administration is working with the Florida Legislature to expand DOGE’s authority to conduct audits of local governments. Until such authority is granted, counties must voluntarily request participation in the audit.
Details on the timeline and scope of the audit process for Holmes County have not yet been released.
