Florida voters, acutely concerned about affordability, are ready to vote in favor of a dramatic reduction in property taxes paid by residential homeowners.<\/p>\n
The conclusions about their sentiments come from a University of North Florida poll that asked voters about a range of issues.<\/p>\n
Affordability is top of mind for likely midterm election voters, UNF\u2019s Public Opinion Research Lab reported in its March survey results.<\/p>\n
Asked a broad question about what they see as \u201cthe most important problem facing Florida today,\u201d 50% of voters cited affordability and the cost of living.<\/p>\n
Nothing else came anywhere close.<\/p>\n
The poll also found overwhelming support for phasing out a large share of property taxes levied on owner-occupied homes, though not enough to guarantee passage.<\/p>\n
Property taxes<\/p>\n
Support is high for the idea of phasing out property taxes on homesteaded property.<\/p>\n
All the plans that have been considered would continue school property taxes, which poll respondents were told. The question also told them that local governments wouldn\u2019t be allowed to reduce funding for law enforcement.<\/p>\n
Support for the idea is broad, 56% to 35%. But that\u2019s shy of the 60% yes vote needed for adopting an amendment to the Florida Constitution, which is the way a property tax overhaul would be started.<\/p>\n
Another 10% said they didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n
Support and opposition aren\u2019t universal. For example, there\u2019s a difference in the level of support expressed by homeowners (58%), who directly pay property taxes, and renters (47%) whose rents cover property taxes.<\/p>\n
One result of reducing property taxes on owner-occupied homes would be increases in property taxes charged to owners of business property and rental homes.<\/p>\n
Other differences:<\/p>\n
\u2014 Political affiliation. Among Democrats, 27% support; 58% oppose. Among Republicans, 76% support, 16% oppose. Among no party affiliation\/independent voters, 56% support; 38% oppose.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Gender. Men, 61% support; 31% oppose. Women, 51% support; 38% oppose.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Age. Younger voters, who are less likely to own homes, were less supportive than older voters. Support was 50% among voters aged 18-34, 52% among those 35-54, and 60% among those 55 and older.<\/p>\n
It isn\u2019t clear just what \u2014 if anything \u2014 will be put before the voters in November.<\/p>\n
Even though the pollsters only described and asked about one potential proposal, a phase out, it contained key elements: targeted to owner-occupied homes (which includes condominiums), continuing school taxes, and promising to protect law enforcement spending.<\/p>\n
A phase out is one of several options that\u2019s been considered by the Florida Legislature. The Florida House and Senate, which decide if an amendment gets on the ballot, haven\u2019t agreed on whether there would be an immediate end to non-school property taxes, whether it would take place gradually over several years, or some other form.<\/p>\n
None of the proposals offered have explained how local governments will make up for the lost revenue.<\/p>\n
The idea of a dramatic reduction in property taxes has been talked about for the past year, ever since Gov. Ron DeSantis started pitching the idea. Unable to run for reelection this year because of term limits and considering whether to make another attempt to win the Republican presidential nomination, DeSantis has been looking for a major victory he could use to sell himself to primary voters in other states.<\/p>\n
DeSantis hasn\u2019t proposed a specific plan. Republicans in the Legislature have been largely supportive. Democrats have been largely opposed, warning of potential negative consequences and arguing the state should tackle a problem they hear about much more often from their constituents: high insurance premiums.<\/p>\n
And local governments have been sounding the alarm, warning that eliminating property taxes paid by homeowners would erode or degrade vital services, including public safety, parks, libraries and roads.<\/p>\n
While they\u2019ve issued warnings, they haven\u2019t launched full-scale efforts to influence voters.<\/p>\n
The poll suggested there is room to sway public opinion on the issue, said Sean Freeder, director of UNF\u2019s Public Opinion Research Lab and political science professor.<\/p>\n
The results show about 36% \u201cstrongly\u201d support the phase-out idea, with about 19% \u201csomewhat\u201d supportive.<\/p>\n
Among opponents, 20% \u201cstrongly\u201d and 15% \u201csomewhat\u201d opposed.<\/p>\n
Freeder said the people who are somewhat supportive could be swayed. Support could drop as soon as there\u2019s a concerted campaign against whatever property tax plan emerges. \u201cPeople love their tax cuts,\u201d he said, but if opponents can articulate a clear message about negative effects \u201cthat\u2019s a much different story.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the total support shown in the survey seems \u201ccloser to the ceiling.\u201d While \u201cthere could be room to move up,\u201d he added that, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t think that\u2019s where they want to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Affordability<\/p>\n
Support for doing something about property taxes comes as affordability has become the top issue for voters in Florida and elsewhere.<\/p>\n
The 50% who cited affordability and cost of living in the University of North Florida poll is a big share of the electorate.<\/p>\n
\u201cA year ago that would be a pretty big shock,\u201d Freeder said.<\/p>\n
The only other concern that was in double digits was political division and polarization at 12%. Everything else, including immigration (8%) and crime (3%), was in single digits.<\/p>\n
Crime used to be much higher, but Freeder described it currently as having \u201cpretty much vanished\u201d as a concern. And he said civic concerns, such as political division and polarization, usually are low on people\u2019s concerns.<\/p>\n
Affordability was cited across the board.<\/p>\n
Men (51%) and women (48%) were effectively tied.<\/p>\n
Differences were negligible among Democrats (48%), Republicans (49%) and no party affiliation\/independent voters (52%.) People who said they voted for President Donald Trump in 2024 and people who voted for Democrat Kamala Harris for president were almost the same, at 50% and 48%.<\/p>\n
One exception: About 55% of voters younger than age 55 said cost of living and affordability was the most important issue compared to 45% of those age 55 and older. (Older voters were slightly more likely than younger voters to cite political division or immigration as their top issue.)<\/p>\n
Fine print<\/p>\n