ORLANDO, Fla. – With headlines swirling around property tax reform in Florida, it’s easy to get lost in the politics.
But behind the soundbites and proposals lies a critical question: If the state cuts lifelines to local governments, what happens to the services you rely on every day?
Gov. Ron DeSantis has made it clear — he wants sweeping changes to Florida’s property tax system. In a recent statement, he asked provocatively, “Is the property yours, or are you just renting it from the government?”
Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia echoed that sentiment in an interview earlier this year, saying, “I would love to get rid of property taxes altogether, but the proposal is to eliminate them on homesteaded properties.”
But what does that mean for counties, cities, and the services they provide?
What’s protected — and what’s not
Recent bills in the Florida House outline what’s off-limits for cuts: law enforcement and school funding. That’s significant, considering property taxes currently fund 46% of Florida’s public schools, totaling $21 billion annually.
Seminole County Tax Collector J.R. Kroll, a Republican, says the state is putting pressure on counties to “tighten their belts” — but without touching schools or public safety. “It’s unfortunate,” he says, “Because that’s where most of the money goes.”
Uneven impact across counties
Kroll points out that the impact of these changes will vary widely.
Seminole County, for example, has just one skyscraper — unfinished and dubbed the “I-4 Eyesore.”
In contrast, cities like Orlando and Tampa have dense commercial districts that generate substantial property tax revenue.
That matters because commercial properties aren’t homesteaded, meaning they wouldn’t benefit from the proposed tax cuts. In Seminole County, 42% of property tax revenue comes from homesteaded homes. In Osceola County, it’s just 27%.
The bigger picture: Fiscally constrained counties
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, 29 of Florida’s 67 counties are fiscally constrained — meaning their property tax revenue isn’t enough to cover current expenses. For those counties, any reduction in property tax income could be devastating.
Kroll says the issue transcends party lines: “To me, it’s not a politics issue. It’s a money issue. Whether it’s a Republican or Democrat proposing it, I’m still going to say — show me the money.”
What happens next?
For any of these proposed cuts to take effect, the Florida House and Senate must agree on a plan. Then, Gov. DeSantis would need to sign off.
Finally, Florida voters will have the final say in November 2026, when any constitutional amendment would require 60% approval to become law.
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