Gov. DeSantis described property taxes as “the worst way to do taxation,” stating he believes it’s unnecessary to have to continue paying after acquiring property.

TAMPA, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced a new special session that could put an end to state property taxes for Florida homeowners.

During a news conference Wednesday in Tampa, DeSantis announced a special session would begin Monday aimed at getting property tax elimination on the November ballot. That way, Florida voters can decide on the governor’s “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” plan to eliminate taxes on homesteads.

Today in Tampa, I outlined the Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes plan that will eliminate taxes on homesteads. 

Property tax revenue collected by local governments has nearly doubled in the past seven years (from $32 billion to $60 billion) and is expected to reach an… pic.twitter.com/3ZcexD9L7X

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 27, 2026



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DeSantis described property taxes as “the worst way to do taxation,” stating he believes it’s unnecessary to have to continue paying after acquiring property.

“You pay all these taxes to acquire that property, and then year after year you’re just having to write a check just for the privilege of being able to maintain ownership of something that is supposedly yours,” he said.

According to the governor, property taxes make up nearly $60 billion in state funds, which he says is in part due to jurisdictions having raised millage rates and valuations.

DeSantis went on to explain that if voters approve of eliminating property taxes, he would likely not propose a new tax, stating that it was time to “start standing for taxpayers.”

“You know, for all this time, as we’ve seen inflation throughout the country, all these different things, it’s always the individual, the consumer, the taxpayer that’s expected to change things in order to make ends meet,” he said. “They never expect government to be able to change things so that it can benefit the taxpayers.”

A bill that would’ve given voters the choice to repeal nearly all property taxes, except those that fund our schools, previously passed the Florida House, but it failed to advance back in March.

For more than a year, DeSantis has been calling for Florida property taxes to be completely eliminated. 

But critics have called into questions how local jurisdictions will make up the difference in funding. 

According to Hillsborough County property appraiser Bob Henriquez, the elimination of property taxes could affect “everything from getting your pothole filled, to new roads, to fixing existing roads, to building a Rays stadium.”

He said the county would have to find a way to make up “about $800 million annually.”

“Some portion of that has to be made up somewhere. Where does that come from? And that’s the thing that no one really wants to talk about because it’s difficult. Is it raising sales tax to 10, 12%? Is it some other form of fee or tax?” Henriquez said.