TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – Florida property tax bills could shrink next year as state lawmakers consider several proposals to cut those taxes and plan to let voters decide which options work best.
The effort to lower property taxes across the state is complicated. That’s why they are proposing putting several options before voters next fall.
“There’s a lot more work to be done,” said Craigin Mosteller, spokeswoman for the Florida Association of Counties.
The Florida Constitution establishes property taxes as a way to fund local government to pay for services like police, water and roads. State leaders are pushing to cut those taxes to address affordability in the state.
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A recent James Madison Institute survey found 65% of people support the effort, enough for a constitutional amendment to pass. Last week, eight different proposals were filed in the House.
“Put this back in the hands of the voters and let the voters decide what they want. Why should we limit their choices currently?” said Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City.
Overdorf chairs the House committee where the seven proposed constitutional amendments and one bill will start. The committee will likely consider moving the wide-ranging proposals in November.
The proposals range from eliminating or phasing out property taxes to adding more homestead exemptions and other reforms.
“We have proposals that will apply the same in Miami-Dade County as they do in Gadsden and Liberty County. That was incredibly important to us,” Overdorf said.
Mosteller hopes these proposals don’t get on the ballot, especially as lawmakers think about voters at home.
“They are so vague and there are so many, I think as a voter and as a person that looks into all of this, the details matter. These are complex issues and the result of how these issues play out has to do with how safe I am in my home,” Mosteller said.
Every proposal filed in the House prevents cities and counties from cutting law enforcement spending. The idea has Democrats, like minority leader Rep. Fentrice Driskell, worried, especially for Florida’s fiscally constrained counties.
“We’d basically be putting them in a situation where they would be living in a welfare state,” Driskell said.
The representative said she’d like to see just as much effort on other affordability issues.
“I think the legislature should be here to partner with local governments. Not to make their lives harder and not to make Floridians less safe,” Driskell said.
Under every proposal, school districts would still be able to collect property taxes.
The Senate hasn’t announced its plans related to property taxes.
The legislature needs to approve the resolutions to put them on the ballot. Voters need to approve any constitutional amendment with 60% of people in favor.
Filed proposals
HJR 201 eliminates non-school homestead property taxes.
HJR 203, phases out non-school homestead property taxes over ten years. Each year homeowners would receive an additional $100,000 exemption. After ten years, all non-school homestead property taxes would be eliminated.
HJR 205 exempts Florida residents over the age of 65 from paying non-school homestead property taxes.
HJR 207 creates a new homestead exemption for non-school property taxes equal to 25% of the assessed value of the house. The proposal would benefit current homeowners and first-time homebuyers.
HJR 209 creates a new property insurance relief homestead tax exemption. Homestead property owners who have property insurance will be entitled to an additional $100,000 exemption on non-school property taxes.
HJR 211 eliminates the cap on portability, allowing a homeowner to transfer their entire accumulated Save Our Homes benefit to their new home, even if that home has a lesser value.
HJR 213 limits the growth in assessed value of non-school homestead property taxes to 3% over three years for homestead property and 15% over three years for non-homestead property. Currently, the limits are 3% per year for homestead and 10% per year for non-homestead property.
HB 215 makes various statutory changes, including requiring a 2/3 vote for any increase in the millage rate and allowing newly married couples to combine their accumulated Save Our Homes benefits.
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