Destin Launches DOGE Efficiency Initiative, Identifies $625,000 in City Savings Collin Bestor December 24, 2025 12:30 pm Destin In Brief: Destin officials say the DOGE initiative has already identified about $625,000 in savings without reducing services The program reviews spending, staffing, contracts, and city assets to improve transparency and accountability Future efficiency measures will roll out in tiers, targeting both quick savings and long-term structural reforms DESTIN — Facing rising service demands, tightening budgets and growing scrutiny from state auditors, Destin city leaders say they are choosing to get ahead of potential problems rather than wait to react to them. That approach was outlined on Dec. 16 in a brief presentation to the City Council on the Destin Optimization of Government Efficiencies, or DOGE, a citywide initiative aimed at modernizing operations, cutting waste and reinforcing public trust. City Manager Larry Jones told council members the effort has been underway for several months and is already producing tangible results. “Over that time, we’ve identified about $625,000 that we’ve been able to bring back into the fold,” Jones said, crediting staff across departments for identifying savings without reducing service levels. Jones described DOGE as a long-term management framework rather than a one-time cost-cutting exercise. He said the goal is to institutionalize efficiency and accountability across all city departments while aligning with the council’s focus on transparency, data-driven decision-making and resident-centered service delivery. City agenda materials note that the DOGE framework mirrors audit models increasingly being used across...
Read More
