Key Highlights
- Governor Ron DeSantis calls for legislative session on property tax relief plan.
- ‘Save Our Homes’ proposal aims to exempt first $250,000 of home value from taxation.
- The bill would impact school districts and law enforcement budgets negatively according to Alex Andrade.
- Legislators must pass the bill by next week for it to go before voters in November 2024.
DeSantis Calls for Property Tax Relief Legislation
Governor Ron DeSantis has called a legislative session next week focused on his property tax relief plan. The proposal, titled ‘Save Our Homes,’ seeks to exempt the first $250,000 of a home’s value from taxation and plans for full elimination over time.
Impact on Local Government Budgets
Representative Alex Andrade warns that the bill could significantly impact school district budgets in counties like Santa Rosa and Escambia. “My rough math says over $40 million in Santa Rosa County and over $70 million in Escambia County are being cut from our school districts’ budgets,” he stated.
Andrade also highlighted concerns about law enforcement funding, stating that the proposal fails to ensure budget protection for these agencies: “This would put no parameters or protections in place for law enforcement agencies; it does allow for paying for law enforcement, but it says nothing about protecting their budgets.”
Preliminary Revenue Losses
Local counties have released preliminary figures on potential impacts. Escambia County expects a $36 million loss in revenue for the 2027-28 fiscal year. Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County are also projected to lose around $36 million and $25 million respectively.
Pensacola Mayor DC Reeves noted that 72% of homestead properties within the city would qualify for full property tax relief, adding: “If you take the homestead properties within the City of Pensacola, we believe that 72% of the homestead properties are assessed at under $250,000.”
Public Support
The Florida Association of Counties’ website details potential property tax levy impacts per county in 2027 if the bill passes. Despite these concerns, a digital poll revealed strong public support for the governor’s plan: “In total over 400 votes, 85% said yes, with 15% answering no,” reflecting the current sentiment towards increased homestead property tax exemptions.
With a required 60% majority to pass in November 2024, DeSantis’ plan faces both support and opposition. The next legislative session is crucial as lawmakers must decide on this controversial proposal that could reshape local budgets across Florida.
