DeSantis pushed for one broad bill at Sunday Kissimmee appearance
Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke out against the ballot proposals the state Legislature has drawn up regarding property tax reform—or elimination—at a gathering of the Osceola County Republican Executive Committee Sunday. (Photo/Cannon Fire Photography)
The elimination of statewide property taxes has been a hot topic born from Tallahassee in the committee weeks and spread across the state leading up to the upcoming legislative delegation.
It would be a heavy lift, and would require 60% approval in a statewide vote of all Florida voters—not just the ones who own property and pay the tax.
Supporters of eliminating those taxes state that those who own homes or property, even ones paid off, perpetually pay rent to their cities and counties.
But those cities and counties counter with a reminder those ad valorem (Latin for “related to value”) taxes pay for fire and police protection, road projects, business and housing assistance, parks and recreation and a portion of education funding.
For example, Kissimmee City Manager Mike Steigerwald told Osceola County’s legislative delegation Monday that the city’s police budget is $40.6 million and the fire service one is $31.2 million, but the city collects $31.3 million in property taxes.
In the push to lower taxes, the Florida House of Representatives has rolled out six proposed constitutional amendments to cut property taxes that will be refined during the upcoming legislative session. The multiple proposals include expanded homestead exemptions and expansion or portability of “Save Our Homes” provisions that limit tax increases when property values sharply increase. They came out of an attempt to shield funding for schools and law enforcement.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, in town Sunday night for a rally and fundraiser with the Osceola County Republican Executive Committee, spoke about the six-bill House plan—unfavorably. He instead rallied for one ballot initiative that would just do away with property taxes.
“If you put six measures on the ballot, you are killing any chance of passing. It’s not going to happen,” he said. “That’s not the way it works. You will not pass any of them. You need one. I want one big, bold amendment.”
He reminded his audience that the state only collects sales tax, paid not just by residents but tourists and the wealthy of Florida who purchase cars and boats.
“Honestly, if I was starting a society from scratch, I would not tax the property at all, but we are where we are,” he said. “What we can control through our Constitution is the level of taxation. People are having trouble with this concept that you own property and have to pay rent to the government in the form of these property taxes, and they assess your property higher and higher,” DeSantis said. “I get the markets have risen, but we have this great situation in Florida where a lot of our tax burden is paid by non-residents; Airbnb, foreigners, snowbirds. Florida residents should be able to own their home with a homestead exemption against all property taxes.”
DeSantis mentioned the ongoing efforts of state Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and the state’s version of the federal DOGE program delving deep into local spending.
“He has been able to document billions of dollars of local government overspending, like $200 million, right next door in Orange County,” DeSantis said. “Government’s not going to be able to use it as a piggy bank, not to be able to take it away from you.”
Legislators will head back to Tallahassee Monday for one of a number of committee hearing weeks ahead of the upcoming legislative session, which begins in January. At this week’s legislative delegation meeting, Osceola’s delegation was asked where they stood on any changes to property taxes.
Republican Reps. Paula Stark, who said she sits on a committee with a sponsor of one of the six amendments, and Erika Booth said they would be collaborating with those committees to produce their wants and needs.
“I’ll be going through the proposals with my committee,” Stark said. “We know the Governor isn’t supporting any of them, so we also know things will change on this between now and the start of the session (in January).”
“It was vital today to hear from constituents at the delegation meeting to see how funding changes would impact our local folks,” Booth said Monday. “I needed that input to take back to Tallahassee. This is very new, so we have a lot to look through.
Among the Democrats, Sen. Kristen Arrington said she does not want to see any changes made, with local services continuing to be paid for by local collections. Rep. Jose Alvarez said he’s concerned what will happen to the services people are used to relying on.
“I don’t sleep at night thinking someone calls 911 because their house is broken into or on fire, and no one is available to respond and something happens,” he said. “I’m hoping they will understand local government cannot provide those needed services without (property tax). There’s other ways to work on it.”
