Homesteaded properties in Florida could be in for some tax savings, if six out of 10 state voters approve a proposal in the November election.
Local counties and municipalities, however, are sounding the alarm on how it could affect the services they provide to their residents. Others fear the property tax burden could shift to commercial and investment properties, affecting business and working families who rent homes.
At the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida legislators returned to the state Capitol on June 1 for a special session. The following day, the Legislature passed a tax relief proposal that increases the homestead exemption from the current $50,000 to $250,000. But unlike DeSantis’ plan, the Legislature protected property tax dollars for school districts.
The plan would relieve the property tax burden on 60% of primary homeowners in the state. In Monroe County, the plan would aid roughly 17% of homestead properties.
Under the legislatively-approved proposal, local municipalities would be required to use the remaining property tax revenues, collected from nonhomesteaded properties, for public safety, education, infrastructure and natural resources.
As for small businesses, the proposal would cut the annual property tax assessments, which can reach 10%, to 5%.
Such moves would require support from 60% of the Legislature and Florida voters in order to be a part of the state constitution.
The House and Senate also omitted the governor’s proposal to create a state trust fund to help rural governments pay for core services. State Rep. Sam Garrison said that while he understood what the administration was trying to accomplish, it “didn’t seem appropriate for a trust fund” as it required a dedicated revenue stream, schedule and criteria as to how it would be distributed.
While seeking to provide primary owners relief on their property taxes, the proposal takes aim at increasing property tax collections among local municipalities around the state in recent years.
In 2019, local governments across the state gathered $32 billion through property tax. By fiscal year 2026, the collections among municipalities in the state reached nearly $60 billion. Even with population growth and inflation, DeSantis acknowledged the increase in property taxpayer money to local municipalities is still a lot.
“Property tax revenue collected by local governments has nearly doubled in the past seven years and is expected to reach an astounding $83 billion by 2032. Florida homeowners need relief,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis reiterated his proposal during a June 1 appearance in Hillsborough County.
“My question is … is there anything else that can be proposed that would actually deliver thousands of dollars of savings every single year to taxpayers? I haven’t seen it,” DeSantis said. “If you’re looking at helping people afford, to be able to live and be able to prosper, the property tax is the best game in town to be able to help with that.”
Shortly after DeSantis’ announcement, the Florida Association of Counties said the decisions made in the upcoming special session will “negatively impact Florida for generations.” The association released an interactive map showing the funding counties won’t be receiving through the property tax levy, if the proposal secures all the necessary approvals.
“Property taxes are the primary funding source for sheriff’s deputies, fire and EMS, jails and emergency response. Under this amendment, public safety budgets could be frozen at 2026 funding levels or even reduced as Florida’s population and calls for service climb. There would be no mass layoffs, just fewer new deputies, slower replacement of squad cars and longer response times, just like Los Angeles,” the association said.
Monroe County Administrator Christine Hurley told Keys Weekly the county has major concerns over the proposal and the loss of revenue. The county said it heeded federal and state-recommended government efficiency efforts last year, trimming almost $19 million in non-core services, while increasing starting and overall pay for sheriff and fire employees.
About 91 percent of Monroe County’s ad valorem (property) tax levy pays for public safety operations and constitutional officers. Public safety services alone account for roughly 69 percent of the levy, supporting the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Rescue, Trauma Star Air Ambulance, Emergency Management, detention operations and emergency communications. Constitutional officers account for another 22 percent.
Democrats in the House and Senate submitted amendments to sunset the changes in 2031. They were voted down by the Republican majority.
