Citrus County residents are raising concerns about recurring power outages during storms in Inverness, a county administrator salary that some say is out of step with comparable counties, and what fiscal monitoring agencies describe as $39 million in wasted public funds over the past six years.
One resident questioned why Citrus County pays its county administrator more than a neighboring county with three times the population and greater geographic size, which reportedly pays its administrator just $125,000. The disparity has drawn scrutiny as Citrus County commissioners continue approving budgets that critics say lack fiscal discipline.
Power reliability in Inverness is also drawing complaints. Residents say that every moderate storm knocks out both power and cable service, raising questions about whether the local grid can handle the added demand from hundreds of new homes planned for the area. “If they can’t handle the grid now, what makes anyone think they’ll handle it then?” one resident wrote in the Citrus County Chronicle. The concern reflects a broader worry about infrastructure keeping pace with rapid residential growth across the region.
On the financial front, residents are urging property taxpayers to pay close attention ahead of future elections. On July 28, 2026, the Citrus County Commission voted unanimously to increase solid waste fees, the latest in a series of revenue increases that critics say have gone unchecked. County revenue has grown by 73 percent over the last six years, an increase of roughly $75 million, according to residents citing Florida fiscal monitoring agencies. Those same agencies determined that Citrus County wasted approximately $39 million during that same period.
Separately, a reader addressed the recent election email error tied to Hernando County, noting that Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Maureen “Mo” Baird is personally acquainted with candidate Rebecca Bays. The reader acknowledged that Bays handled the situation with accountability, writing that she “owned the mistake,” a quality the commenter suggested is rare among public officials. The comments reflect ongoing public frustration with transparency and accountability in local government across the tri-county region.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
Sources: Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
