Brevard County legislators all supported the Gov. Ron DeSantis-backed property tax elimination bill that passed both chambers on Tuesday, June 2.
Local elected officials and others, though, have warned the move could devastate city and county governments even as the bill’s proponents say it will provide needed relief for the state’s homeowners.
The controversial bill could see the elimination of all homestead property taxes — those collected by and used to fund local government services — on primary homes on up to $250,000 in value. The matter will now go before Florida voters, who must approve the measure with a 60% supermajority for it to become law.
Local government officials have expressed concerns and frustration over the property tax elimination, saying it could threaten how necessary services like road and stormwater infrastructure are paid for by county and city governments.
All four Republican Brevard County lawmakers in the Florida House voted in favor of the property tax bill, which passed in that chamber 75-26 on Tuesday. Both Florida Senators, Debbie Mayfield and Tom Wright, for the Space Coast also voted in support of the measure, which passed in the Senate 30-9.
“The next stop is on the November ballot for the voters to take it up,” Rep. Tyler Sirois (R-Merritt Island) said. “The voters are going to have between now and November to go over the issue and review it and make an informed decision.”
Sirois, who is being term-limited in the State House is running for Brevard County Commission this fall, said the legislation will provide voters with an option to reduce their property tax bill.
“I think that people expect government to constantly be pursuing new efficiencies and responsible spending with taxpayer dollars. This is just a new process to work through,” Sirois said. “I don’t view this as something to fear. County and local governments are going to have to make difficult decisions and prioritize.
Rockledge City Councilman Frank Forester said the bill dodged a bullet by excluding school-related taxes, which is one of the biggest portions of property taxes. Other than that, Forester said the expenses of cities are not going away. He hopes the bill can be defeated in November.
“You can’t close a library or a park and tell people to smile and shut up,” Forester said. “I’ve never had anybody complain about their taxes in all my years doing this. That’s because people get value for their money.”
Forester said most local governments won’t be able to lose 30% of their income without sacrificing needed services, meaning the income will need to be made up for elsewhere.
“We don’t have that much to cut. So we’re going to have to get it from somewhere else,” Forester said. “That means taxes on non-homestead property will go up. Some cities and counties will impose user fees for fire and police and other services.”
When would Florida property tax bill take effect?
As long as Florida voters approve the measure with a 60% supermajority on the Nov. 3, 2026 election, the first stage of the bill will become the official law of the land next year.
Lawmakers will reconvene in December after the election to decide on exactly how to implement the law if voters approve it, allowing for more time to fine-tune the legislation. Based on how the implementation bill shakes out, county and local governments will have a better idea of the framework that they will use to adjust going forward.
Once that takes place, property taxes will be eliminated on $150,000 of home values beginning on Jan. 1, 2027. By Jan. 1, 2028, the value will increase to $250,000 on which homeowners no longer owe taxes.
The law only applies to primary homes and not vacation homes or other categories of real estate. Currently only $50,000 of primary home value is exempt from property taxes.
School funding property taxes will not be affected
Lawmakers made several changes to the initital version of the bill that had DeSantis’ backing. Those changes include:
Sirois said those school funding specifically were protected by the Florida House because education was of “paramount importance.”
“Our constitutional offices are foundational elements of our government,” he said. “What they do, elections for example, are core functions of our government.”
The bill also limits future property tax assessments on businesses and requires any person who establishes Florida residency after Jan 1, 2027, to maintain Florida residency for five years prior to receiving the increased homestead exemption.
What do opponents of property tax elimination say?
Property taxes have long been the core funding mechanism for local governments. Sales taxes are another component but are more prone to fluctuations in the economy, while tax experts say property taxes are far more stable, allowing local governments to conduct long-term planning and take on debt as needed, according to the non-profit, non-partisan Tax Foundation.
The Republican-backed bill received most of its opposition from Democrats in the state legislature. Those Democrats said the property tax elimination as written will create a cost shift rather than a cost cut for homeowners.
Jeff Brandes, president of the nonprofit think thank Florida Policy Project, wrote on his X account that the property tax bill could potentially cause a major realignment of political power in the state of Florida.
“If local governments can’t raise enough revenue locally, they won’t become smaller. They’ll become dependent,” Brandes wrote.
“Dependent on Tallahassee grants. Dependent on state appropriations. Dependent on political decisions made hundreds of miles away,” he continued. “The Governor and Legislature are about to become the unelected county commission for Volusia, Flagler, Hernando, Sumter, and dozens of other communities. Because whoever controls the money ultimately controls the budget. This isn’t just a tax debate. It’s a transfer of power.”
Tyler Vazquez is the Growth and Development Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. Find me on X (formerly Twitter): @tyler_vazquez.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard legislators unanimously back DeSantis property tax proposals
Reporting by Tyler Vazquez and Jim Rosica, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
