Florida lawmakers push for sweeping property tax cuts, but experts warn of challenges

TALLAHASEE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers are aiming to cut property taxes across the state.

Nearly 10 proposals were introduced in the legislature that would significantly reduce or remove most property taxes for homeowners in just over a year.

Governor Ron DeSantis has repeatedly raised the issue that Floridians should not be paying property taxes.

Reducing or eliminating property taxes has been a contentious topic in Tallahassee for quite a while.

Under these proposals, a local economist says it’s difficult to imagine how the state can afford to do it.

Eight recent proposals range from a ten-year phased-out approach to a more immediate impact starting in 2027.

Rep. Alex Andrade says eliminating property tax is achievable but will undoubtedly come at a cost.

“There will have to be some accommodation for alternative revenue,” Andrade said.

Andrade says it would take a roughly 2% increase in sales tax to fully eliminate property taxes in Florida.

“We already have significant homestead protections in Florida; we’ve capped the amount values of homes can be raised each year if they’re homesteaded properties,” Andrade said. “It’s less about if it’s achievable and more about if the elected folks in office have the will to do it.”

“Everybody loves a tax cut, but how are you going to replace the revenue?” Dr. Rick Harper said.

Local economist Dr. Rick Harper says it’s difficult to forecast how the state would overcome a shortfall.

Eliminating property taxes was a central focus for the Florida DODGE headed by CFO Blaise Ingoglia.

Harper says their efforts haven’t proven enough.

“That’s designed to root out inefficiencies, waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending, and the amount of that just is trivial relative to the total dollar value of spending that gets done on schools, on public safety, and on other local government functions,” Harper said.

The Florida Education Association says roughly 50% of public school funding comes from local property taxes. That’s roughly 7 billion statewide, according to the Florida Policy Institute.

In the proposals, lawmakers promise school taxes or law enforcement funding won’t be impacted.

Harper says it will be difficult to make up for the lost revenue.

“Those are the sorts of questions that aren’t yet addressed. It sounds great, lower property taxes. Everybody loves that proposal, but how do you provide the public services that come from local government?” Harper said.

Voters could decide on the issue by next November, as lawmakers in Northwest Florida say the cost is still being considered.

“I think we should do away with it,” Andrade said. “We shouldn’t assume it’s not going to be tied to some type of offset of revenue.”

Lawmakers could be voting on these items as soon as January, as the committees will start to hear the proposals next month.