The session may be over but the debate and fight continues.
The big headline may have been that the Florida Legislative session ended without a state budget. But it also ended without a bill the governor has wanted for some time now: a bill ending all homestead property taxes. And the governor usually gets what he wants. Our lawmakers will get back to work in Tallahassee during a special session to try and hammer out a budget and, perhaps work on getting a bill through regarding property taxes.
For the matter to be considered by voters this November, the legislature will need to pass the bill by May. It will then go to voters and will require a 60% supermajority to make it into the Florida constitution. So far, the Florida House has shown great zeal for the initiative but their partners in the state senate not so much.
State Rep. Monique Miller, R-Palm Bay, told my colleague Tyler Vazquez that House Republicans went “all in” on getting rid of property taxes, adding that she was disappointed that the Senate hadn’t shown the same level of enthusiasm for the policy. Her hope is that the governor will apply pressure to her colleagues in the upper house come next month’s special session.
“It’s been so frustrating,” Miller said. “I will continue to be the vocal champion in terms of getting something across the line.”
Those who live in their primary residence would benefit the most, according to Kiplinger. Many homeowners would save substantial amounts of money. But that money goes to pay for services and infrastructure which would still be needed. The funding for lost property tax revenue would likely come from an increase in sales tax. A reduction in services is always possible.
I know we’ve had this topic before but now it seems closer to becoming a reality than before. And that brings me to the Question of the Week:
Would you vote to eliminate Florida’s property tax?
You can scan the QR code that is on the print edition page or go to https://www.floridatoday.com/opinions-columns/. Please leave a comment telling us why you voted the way you did. In order for your comment or email to be published on our website and in next week’s print edition, you must include your first and last name. You can also shoot me an email with “Property Tax” in the subject line. I look forward to reading your responses.
Contact Torres at jtorres@floridatoday.com. You can follow him on X @johnalbertorres. Florida video editor Rob Landers contributed to this report.Support local journalism and become a subscriber. Visit floridatoday.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Eliminating Florida’s property tax is still a real possibility
Reporting by John A. Torres, Florida Today / Florida Today
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