Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is speaking out against a proposed property tax referendum that Florida voters will consider in November, arguing the measure could significantly reduce city revenue and impact essential services.
The Florida Legislature voted this week to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would raise the homestead exemption for property taxes from $50,000 to $150,000 next year and to $250,000 by 2028.
During a Thursday news conference, Deegan criticized the proposal, calling it a ‘Tallahassee takeover’ and warning it could force major budget cuts at the local level.
“It’s like an outsider coming to your kitchen table and demanding that you cut one third of your family budget,” Deegan said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has said the proposal would eliminate property taxes for about 60% of Floridians.
Deegan called the measure shortsighted and questioned whether lawmakers fully understood its long-term effects.
“We don’t even know the unintended consequences at this point, and you know what? Neither do the people who just passed this bill because they did it in 24 hours,” Deegan said.
According to estimates from the Jacksonville City Council Auditor’s Office, the city would lose roughly $300 million in revenue if voters approve the amendment.
Deegan said she is concerned about potential impacts on police and fire services, noting that current property tax revenues barely cover those expenses.
“If we can’t build those fire stations, then those costs will go up. Those are the types of things we’re talking about. There may be some things that have to close. A third of the budget is a lot of the budget,” Deegan explained.
She also said the loss of revenue could undermine efforts to attract businesses and residents downtown.
“I don’t think we want to go back to being a city of renderings. I don’t think we want to go back to being a city that lets its infrastructure fall apart. I think we are city on the rise,” Deegan said.
Not everyone in city government opposes the proposal.
City council member Rory Diamond said he supports the referendum and believes Jacksonville can reduce spending while maintaining services.
“We can cut out every economic development agreement, all the corporate welfare can go. That’s literally been hundreds of millions of dollars the last couple of years. Arts grants…when the public market says they don’t want art, fine, cut those grant. We can do a 25 percent across the board every single department cut and still give you good services,” Diamond said.
Deegan said residents can expect to hear more in the coming months about the potential impacts of the proposed tax cuts. She was also asked whether the city might need to increase fees or to offset lost property tax revenue. Deegan said city leaders have not discussed that possibility yet and she hopes it will not be necessary.
Watch the full address from Mayor Deegan: