Florida Tax Cut’s?? When will home owners see relief?
Governor Ron DeSantis has proposed significant property tax reforms aimed at providing immediate relief to Florida homeowners and pursuing long-term structural changes. Here's an overview of his current initiatives:
Immediate Relief: $1,000 Property Tax Rebates
DeSantis has proposed issuing one-time rebates averaging $1,000 to each homesteaded property owner in Florida. These rebates would offset state-mandated school property taxes while maintaining full funding for school districts. The plan would utilize $5 billion from the state's budget surplus, with checks anticipated to be distributed in December 2025. Spectrum News 13+3Florida Governor's Office+3WJXT+3
Long-Term Goal: Eliminating Property Taxes
The governor is advocating for a constitutional amendment to be placed on the November 2026 ballot, aiming to eliminate property taxes entirely. He argues that property taxes effectively require homeowners to "pay rent to the government" and believes that eliminating them would provide lasting relief. FOX 13 Tampa Bay+1Spectrum News 13+1
Legislative Developments
Several related bills are under consideration:
HB 359 proposes a $100,000 exemption on all real properties in Florida.
SB 1018 seeks to increase the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $75,000.
SJR 1016 would amend the state constitution to implement these changes. Florida Governor's Office
Considerations and Challenges
Eliminating property taxes would remove a significant revenue source for local governments, which currently fund essential services like schools, police, and infrastructure through these taxes. To compensate, the state would need to explore alternative revenue streams, such as increasing sales taxes, which could disproportionately affect lower-income residents. FPI Home
Governor DeSantis's proposals aim to provide immediate financial relief to homeowners and initiate a broader discussion on the state's tax structure. However, these initiatives would require legislative approval and, in some cases, voter endorsement through constitutional amendments.