DeSantis Calls Special Session to Put $250,000 Property Tax Plan on November Ballot
Updated
Updated · FOX 13 Tampa · May 27
DeSantis Calls Special Session to Put $250,000 Property Tax Plan on November Ballot
11 articles · Updated · FOX 13 Tampa · May 27
Monday’s special session will let Florida lawmakers start drafting a constitutional amendment for the November ballot that DeSantis says would make homestead property taxes tax-free over time.
The governor’s opening proposal would raise the homestead exemption limit to $250,000, a level he says would erase property taxes for 60% of homeowners; a $500,000 limit would cover 92%.
Lawmakers have until August to finalize ballot language, and the measure would still need at least 60% voter approval because reducing or eliminating property taxes requires a constitutional amendment.
Local governments, renters and businesses have pushed back, warning lost property-tax revenue could force cuts to services such as fire rescue or shift the burden to higher business levies and double-digit sales taxes.
If homeowners stop paying property taxes, who will ultimately cover the multi-billion dollar bill for community services?
Could making homes 'tax-free' inadvertently lead to higher costs for Florida's renters and local businesses?