FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Broward County is proud of its new “Arts Metaverse,” a virtual 3-D platform that makes the county’s public art collection accessible online.
But the state officials have flagged the $175,000 project as part of what it calls “wasteful spending.”
The list, compiled by state auditors in recent weeks, includes nearly $900,000 over five years for diversity, equity, and inclusion training, and $44,000 for a decades-old United Nations treaty on gender equity in civil rights, the audit shows.
Officials say the criticism misses the value these programs provide.
Broward Commissioner Michael Udine said the county considers initiatives like the Art Metaverse and DEI training part of serving constituents and reflecting community values.
“What are the values of the community?” Udine asked while on This Week in South Florida this past Sunday.
The county has touted its strong fiscal management, with reserves in good shape and no debt, according to Broward County Mayor Beam Furr.
The DOGE-ers also called out other projects across Florida. At Jacksonville International Airport, a $75,000 hologram mayor welcoming travelers in multiple languages drew scrutiny.
In Orlando, $460,000 spent over five years on a tree study used for building and climate planning was also called out.
State officials have largely focused on programs involving DEI, which the DeSantis administration has labeled “ideology.”
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