Florida state lawmakers are considering proposals that could eliminate homestead taxes in the state. The possibility of this happening next year has sparked a variety of reactions from residents, especially in rural areas.
A from the Florida League of Cities indicated that rural counties might face more significant challenges compared to wealthier coastal areas .
Rebecca Gill, a resident of Hendry County, expressed concerns about the potential impact on her community.
“If we also stop paying property tax, what could happen?” said Gill.
Gill owns a home in Hendry County and pays less than $5,000 in property tax annually.
“If I didn’t have the taxes, I think I could afford a little bit more home improvement and more services for my home,” said Gill.
Despite the potential benefits for her budget, Gill worries about the consequences for her community.
“I would wonder whether it would jeopardize my public services,” said Gill. “I would also wonder whether there would be a disproportionate burden on working people like me.”
In Felda, another area in Hendry County, homeowner Tim Taylor shared his perspective on the current state of homestead property taxes.
“I feel like I’m paying rent now, you know, and I paid for my property a few years back,” said Taylor.
Taylor, who plans to retire soon, expressed frustration over rising property taxes. He said he supports Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposal to eliminate property taxes for homestead properties in Florida.
“I’m getting ready to retire in a couple years, and my property taxes have doubled… in the last 10 years,” said Taylor.
David Taylor, Tim’s cousin, lives in the same neighborhood and believes a compromise is necessary.
“I think they could come up with something like you say, to do a compromise,” said David Taylor.
“Come up with some way to cut the taxes and still be able to, you know what I mean, deal with the rural services,” added David Taylor.
The potential changes to property taxes in Florida are still uncertain. WINK News has reached out to state representatives and county officials in Glades and Hendry counties to gather more information and will meet with Glades County officials next week.
Florida Rep. Lauren Melo (R), who represents parts of Hendry County in the Florida House of Representatives provided WINK News with the following statement:
“The affordability crisis is a real and growing challenge for families across our nation. The Florida Legislature is committed to easing that burden for everyday Floridians. We recognize that eliminating homestead property taxes could provide meaningful relief and help offset rising costs of living. At the same time, property taxes are a critical source of revenue that fund essential state and local services. This is especially true for fiscally constrained and rural communities like Hendry County, which rely on these funds to protect families, maintain infrastructure and sustain the local economy. Any proposal to eliminate property taxes must include a clear, sustainable plan to replace lost funding so that rural communities like Hendry County are not left at a disadvantage. Our goal is to identify a responsible solution that preserves funding for critical programs while delivering well-deserved relief to everyday Floridians.”
Stay tuned for updates on how these proposals could impact local communities.