At Eye on Jacksonville, we believe in citizen power — and this week we’re giving a big thumbs up to a group of Nassau County residents who’ve taken that power seriously by launching a new website: NassauFLDOGE.com.

This grassroots effort is aimed at keeping a sharp eye on local government spending, school board decisions, and transparency issues in one of Florida’s small town counties. The group behind the site calls themselves Defenders of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — and they’re on a mission to hold local leaders accountable — one record request and one article at a time.

The website includes public records, petitions, investigative blogs, and timely updates on Nassau’s budget, contracts, and policy decisions. It’s not flashy — it’s citizen journalism at its finest. These are neighbors and taxpayers who care deeply about how their money is being spent and how their county is being managed.

And their timing couldn’t be better.

This week, the Florida Legislature officially codified the state’s DOGE program into law, turning what was once a pilot effort into a permanent oversight unit tasked with rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in LOCAL governments across Florida.

That means DOGE isn’t just a clever acronym anymore — it’s the real deal.

Backed by Governor Ron DeSantis and CFO Blaise Ingoglia, the newly codified Department of Government Efficiency now has legal authority to investigate cities and counties that refuse to answer basic taxpayer questions — starting with Gainesville, where taxes have risen 85% in four years and transparency is nowhere to be found.

But if you think Gainesville is the only target, think again.

As the volunteers behind NassauFLDOGE.com have rightly pointed out, Nassau County is not immune to government bloat or inept decisions. Their new site calls attention to oversized budgets, questionable contracts, and expensive record requests — the very issues the state DOGE unit is now empowered to investigate.

We at Eye applaud this kind of civic initiative. These watchdogs are not waiting for permission or politics — they’re simply demanding honesty, efficiency, and transparency from their local government. That’s something every Floridian should support.

So here’s our message to the Nassau DOGE crew:
Well done. Keep going. Keep digging. And know that our Eyes are watching — and cheering you on.