FAC Report: Wakulla County Tops Florida in General Government Spending

Wakulla County loves to tout its reputation for "good government" and fiscal responsibility. But the latest Florida Association of Counties (FAC) report tells a very different story — one that taxpayers deserve to see.

The Numbers Don't Lie

According to audited FY 2024 data:

• General Government Spending: $31.06 million

• Public Safety Spending: $27.90 million

• Total County Expenditures: $88.09 million

• General Government Share: 35.3% — the highest percentage in the entire state

That’s right. Out of all 67 counties in Florida, Wakulla ranks #1 in the proportion of its budget spent on General Government — higher than Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, and every other county, big or small.

Who Else Is on the List?

Only eight counties in Florida spent more on General Government than Public Safety in FY 2024:

• Miami-Dade

• Duval

• Hillsborough

• Lee

• Manatee

• St. Lucie

• Gulf

• Wakulla

Of those, six are large urban counties with massive administrative overhead. Only two — Gulf and Wakulla — are small, rural, and fiscally constrained. But even among those, Wakulla stands out:

• Gulf: 24.3% of budget to General Government

• Wakulla: 35.3% — a full 11-point jump

What Does "General Government" Even Mean?

It includes administrative costs: constitutional officers, elections, IT, HR, legal, retirement contributions, and more. These are fixed costs that don’t shrink with population — but Wakulla’s percentage is still extreme.

💰 "But We Get Grants!"

That’s the excuse you’ll hear. But let’s be clear:

• Grants are tax dollars.

• Whether they come from Tallahassee or D.C., they’re still public money.

• And once they’re in the budget, they’re spent — often without clear public input.

The issue isn’t where the money came from. The issue is how it’s being used.

📈 Meanwhile, Taxes and Fees Keep Rising

Despite being a fiscally constrained county:

• Millage rates have crept up

• Fees for services have increased

• And yet, administrative spending continues to dominate

Public Safety Takes a Back Seat

In most rural counties, Public Safety is the largest budget category — often double or triple General Government. Not in Wakulla.

• Here, General Government outpaces Public Safety by over $3 million

• And it claims a larger share of the budget than any other county in Florida

🧩 So What’s the Real Story?

Wakulla isn’t just an outlier — it’s an extreme outlier.

• The only small rural county where General Government is the #1 spending category by a wide margin

• The only county in its revenue tier (ranked 45th) with this pattern

• And the only one where the percentage exceeds 35%

🗣️ What Taxpayers Should Be Asking

• Why is administrative overhead growing faster than frontline services?

• What oversight exists for how grants are spent?

• Why does Wakulla lead the state in General Government spending — and what are we getting for it?

Transparency Starts with the Numbers

Sources:

• Florida Association of Counties Property Tax Report

• Wakulla County 2024/2025 Budget (Final)

• Florida Department of Revenue Reporting on Property Tax

Please also check the links within the Florida Association of Counties Property Tax Report

Stay sharp, Wakulla!