Florida
DeSantis Steps Back from Campaigning for Property Tax Amendment in Florida
TAMPA — Gov. Ron DeSantis has spent more than a year boosting a proposal to eliminate or substantially reduce property taxes for Floridians, but because the Legislature’s version doesn’t reach as far as his own plan, he now says he…
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Key points
- Governor DeSantis will not campaign for a property tax amendment due to its limitations compared to his original proposal.
- The approved amendment includes key tax relief measures but omits certain features from the governor’s plan.
- Local residents should be aware of the potential impact on services and budgets as this amendment heads to the ballot.
TAMPA, Fla. NewsWK — Governor Ron DeSantis has indicated that he will not actively campaign for a property tax amendment that will be presented to Florida voters this November. This decision comes after spending over a year advocating for a proposal aimed at significantly reducing property taxes for Floridians. During a recent news conference, DeSantis acknowledged the limitations of the Legislature’s version of the proposal, stating, “I don’t think so,” when asked about his plans to support the amendment.
The governor had originally introduced a more comprehensive plan that included property taxes for schools, which was not embraced by lawmakers during the legislative session. The amendment approved by the Legislature does retain several key components of his proposal, including an increase in the homestead exemption for non-school ad valorem taxes to $250,000 by 2028, a reduction in assessed growth on non-homesteaded properties from 10% to 5%, and restrictions on how local governments can allocate property tax revenues. However, it omits provisions to raise the homestead exemption to $500,000 and does not include funding for local governments to cover revenue shortfalls.
For residents of Pensacola and surrounding areas, this development could have significant implications for property tax relief. Local officials and taxpayers alike are encouraged to closely monitor how these changes may affect local services and budgets. DeSantis believes that the current proposal is beneficial for taxpayers, stating, “I will vote for it,” but he also expressed regret over the loss of his broader vision for tax reform.
As the amendment approaches the ballot, groups opposing the measure are emerging, including the “Stop Unfair Tax Shifts” campaign, which warns that lower property taxes could lead to reduced essential services. Additionally, the organization 3 Degrees Florida is urging residents to consider the potential consequences of the tax cuts.
DeSantis noted that it would be inappropriate for local governments to use taxpayer funds to oppose the amendment, in line with Florida law prohibiting such expenditures for political purposes. With this context, it remains to be seen how the community will respond to the proposed changes and whether they will support or reject the amendment come November.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Based on reporting originally published by Florida Phoenix. Read the original story.
