Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call for lawmakers to craft a ballot measure that could sharply reduce property taxes drew a range of responses from other Florida leaders.
DeSantis announced plans to call the Legislature back into a special session June 1 to approve a proposed constitutional amendment for the November ballot that would raise the state’s $50,000 homestead exemption to $250,000.
That’s the first step in a property tax overhaul that could see that exemption later rise to $500,000, which the governor says would take roughly 92% of Florida primary homes off the tax rolls. At least 60% of Florida voters would have to approve the measure for it to become law.
A state trust fund would be established to help some counties and school districts absorb the financial hit tied to lost property tax dollars.
But DeSantis says that the state’s rising property values and what he expects to be the economy’s positive response to the tax cut will still leave local governments with enough money for schools, public safety, parks, garbage pickup, hospital funding and more.
How do others see it?
Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, who has emerged as an ally of DeSantis, hailed the proposal.
“I can’t think of a more meaningful way to celebrate America’s 250 then the passage of $250,000 in tax relief for every Florida homeowner. I believe this amendment will provide meaningful relief for Florida families, while protecting businesses from extreme tax increases and safeguarding local funding…”
House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, who has clashed with DeSantis was cautious. He also chided the governor for having ignored the House’s earlier work on cutting property taxes, which included a 10-year phase-out of the levy.
“We are pleased the Governor has finally gotten around to share an actual proposal. We look forward to reviewing it once we have received the language.”
House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa warned the ballot measure, if approved by voters, would “hobble” cities and counties and force communities to demand fees for a host of services.
“We’re open to solutions that create affordability, but not at the expense of working families, of small businesses and local governments who rely on property taxes to repair roads, provide public safety through law enforcement and police departments and fire, and to maintain beautiful parks, support our schools and so much more.”
Others have been wary of a deep cut in property taxes
The Florida Association of Counties and Florida League of Cities have been warning for months that a dramatic reduction in property taxes would rob many communities of dollars needed for scores of expected services.
Florida’s safety-net hospitals and health care districts around the state also fear that the overhaul would eliminate tax dollars and threaten critical services.
Public schools in many counties are already facing budget woes brought on largely by the state’s new universal voucher program, which makes almost every Florida family eligible to use public school dollars to pay tuition at private schools.
Even the group that represents mosquito control districts is worried about losing funding.
“While some local governments may have the ability to ‘backfill’ revenue reductions through alternative funding sources, the states 15 independent mosquito control districts simply do not have that flexibility,” Florida Mosquito Control Association President Peter Jiang said in a statement.
“We do not possess alternative statutory revenue mechanisms that would allow us to replace substantial losses to (the property) tax base,” he added.
Shrinking schools, shrinking budgets
Losing property tax money would likely further reduce funds for school budgets. Indeed, the state budget lawmakers are expected to approve May 29 includes an almost $736 million increase in K-12 funding, with almost $322 million of it coming from local property taxes.
Despite the enrollment troubles in many counties, state officials still forecast that there will be 3.2 million Florida school kids next year. But in the future, those local tax dollars could be hard to find if the Legislature agrees to put DeSantis’ idea on the ballot and 60% of Florida voters approve.
DeSantis, though, predicts that his idea would be a winner with voters. It could also be a vote-driver in the November elections, when Florida will elect a new governor and President Trump is seeking to win more Republican seats across the nation in a bid to retain control of Congress.
The measure would go on the ballot just two months before DeSantis leaves office. It clearly has legacy potential for the governor, good or bad. He once called cutting property taxes the “Big Kahuna.”
“I’m not a guy who really obsesses over polling,” DeSantis said in rolling out his plan. “But I can tell you, if this is presented as it will be on the ballot, it pops pretty good.”
John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Network’s Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@usatodayco.com, or on X at @JKennedyReport.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: How other Florida leaders view DeSantis call to cut property tax
Reporting by John Kennedy, Capital Bureau | USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA / Tallahassee Democrat
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