Gov. Ron DeSantis' goal to slash property taxes has one glaring problem: Local governments use that revenue to pay for basic services like police, fire and schools.

• But what if there's reason to believe those governments are misusing those funds?

Why it matters: That's the case that DeSantis and his state Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are putting together to justify a referendum that would cut property taxes statewide.

• DeSantis and Republican lawmakers are working to get such a measure onto the ballot next year.

Case in point: "All of this is laying a predicate to reducing property taxes," DOGE chief Blaise Ingoglia said last month at a news conference.

State of play: Over the summer, Ingoglia began requesting reams of budget information from cities and counties across Florida and dispatching agents to comb through files in person.

• At the time, he shared little insight into how the information would be used. But in recent weeks, he said the agency won't release thorough audits of each government.
• Rather, DOGE staffers are "going to pull some examples" of what they believe to be wasteful spending, Ingoglia said at a Sept. 24 conference in Hillsborough County.

Zoom in: At the news conference, Ingoglia claimed DOGE's review had found nearly $190 million in "excessive, wasteful" spending in Broward County.

• The administration cited three examples: $890,000 for DEI training since 2020, $175,000 for creating virtual art in the Metaverse and $44,000 to support a UN treaty on gender equity.
• Miami-Dade County wasn't included in the batch of examples. (The county did not respond to Axios' inquiry about whether it received any findings from the state.)

The other side: "We have been unable to verify the sources of data used to arrive at these values," a Broward County administrator said in response to Ingoglia's figures, per NBC6.

• Officials in Broward County did not respond to Axios' request for comment on the state's report.

Reality check: While state officials have alleged widespread fraud, these line items make up a fraction of a percent of each government's total annual budget.

• Local officials have said the DOGE findings lack context and don't say much about overall spending.

Between the lines: Ingoglia has conceded that "a lot" of what his DOGE team considers waste is "subjective."

• Most of the examples released so far focus on local spending related to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as LGBTQ+ programs.

Neither the governor's office nor Ingoglia responded to Axios' requests for comment.

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Florida stone crab season opens up tomorrow and runs through May 1.

Why it matters: The stone crab harvest contributes $30 million to Florida's economy each year, according to the University of Florida.

• Ninety percent of all stone crabs are caught in Florida and they are some of the most expensive seafood you can buy, per UF.

How it works: Fishers are only allowed to take a crab's claws — if they're big enough — to allow the limbs to regenerate.

• While it's not a rule, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission suggests only harvesting one claw per crab to give the critter a better chance at survival.
• "The quicker the crab can obtain the energy required to molt and grow its lost claw, the sooner this renewable delicacy will have another claw to replace the missing one," the FWC writes on its website.

Flashback: Joe's Stone Crab — considered Miami's oldest restaurant — helped popularize stone crabs here in the 1920s.

• Joe's celebrates its 113th season on Thursday.

What they're saying: Stephen Weiss, Joe's great-grandson, told Fine Dining Lovers that the start of stone crab season "kicks off the best time of year in Miami."

• "People get really excited and rush to get the first claws of the season," says Weiss. "It usually marks the end of the summer heat, and a general excitement just fills the air."

Tell a stone crab fan

🏗️ Coral Gables-based Shoma Group is partnering with Dubai-based developer Cosmo Development for its latest project, Shoma Bay in North Bay Village, which will include more than 370 units and 28 stories. (South Florida Business Journal)

🛣️ The city of Miami Beach named 13th St. in South Beach after Gloria Estefan. (Miami Herald)

😎 Tiesto and Hugel will kick off Factory Basel, the weeklong music event at Factory Town, the massive music venue in Hialeah, during Art Basel. It runs from Dec. 3 through Dec. 7. (Miami New Times)

Goodwill South Florida is getting into the Halloween spirit with expanded inventory and a new buy-back policy for used costumes.

Why it matters: The thrift store chain says it wants to capitalize on tariff-related shortages and the closure of stores like Party City.

Driving the news: Beginning Nov. 1, Goodwill South Florida will launch its Costume Comeback campaign, where customers can donate gently used costumes for a $4-$10 coupon for future purchases.

Halloween 2025 may be one of the most expensive yet for chocolate lovers as high cocoa prices haunt the candy aisle.

Why it matters: Cocoa prices have more than doubled since early 2024, pushing the Consumer Price Index for candy and gum up 8% and changing how people fill their candy bowls, per new reports.

By the numbers: 57% of Americans say higher prices are changing how much they spend on Halloween candy, according to Empower's "Trick-or-Treat-onomics" report.

Yes, but: The National Confectioners Association's survey of 1,000 people found 94% of consumers plan to share chocolate and candy for Halloween.

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