\u201cIt\u2019s as though Tallahassee is deconstructing the recipe of what success looks like, and then just deteriorating what quality of life will be in cities,\u201d said Michelle Heiser, town manager for Ocean Ridge in Palm Beach County \u2013 which like Key Biscayne is an oceanfront bedroom community.<\/p>\n
A Florida League of Cities study <\/a>released in December detailed how eliminating or sharply reducing homestead property taxes would create sweeping fiscal disruptions and weaken essential services. It found that the exemptions disproportionately benefit owners of high-value homes, slam renters, new homes and commercial properties and hurt rural communities.<\/p>\n Charles Chapman, legislative advocate for the organization, said any ordinance on the ballot would affect the 2027-2028 fiscal budget for municipalities.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s so many different things that they (lawmakers) could possibly do that it\u2019s hard to really nail down what the actual path will be moving forward,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In the meantime, Chapman said municipalities are scrambling. One municipality is considering charging an entrance fee to the dog park.<\/p>\n Nussbaum told the Council to buckle up, suggesting the Council prioritize its major projects during its May strategic session.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere are going to be some difficult decisions coming up for the Council to make,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n State lawmakers have vowed not to cut funding for police and fire, but everything else would mean municipalities would have to go to Tallahassee on bended knee to get money.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the March 10 meeting alone, the Council approved $215,000 f<\/a>or a Community Center assessment and feasibility study; $248,000<\/a> to replace 15 aging traffic calming devices and nearly $69,000 <\/a>in additonal dollars for the renovation of the Building and Zoning office.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of things that we talked about here tonight, we couldn\u2019t do if something like this would take away all our ad valorem taxes,\u201d Rasco said.<\/p>\n Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava visited Virginia Key Tuesday to cut the ribbon on a $210 million upgrade to the Central Waste Water Treatment Plant. She said the County could see a hit anywhere from $150 million all the way up to $1 billion per year.<\/p>\n \u201cOur general fund revenue is only $3.3 billion overall. So it\u2019s a very substantial amount of money that could possibly affect transit, road repairs, animal services, libraries and fire,\u201d Levine Cava said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnd while they say law enforcement would be kept protected, they would also hold it at a rate of this year\u2019s budget, which would mean there would be no opportunities for increased expenses or salaries, things that would naturally normally be included.\u201d<\/p>\n New Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins campaigned against the property tax initiative. \u201cWe have to remember that 70% of the people who live in our city are renters, so only working on property taxes for homestead owners does not help people who are renters,\u201d she said at a candidate forum last October.<\/p>\n For any initiative to pass, it would need 60% approval. The North Florida\u2019s Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) released a poll this month <\/a>showing that among likely midterm voters, 56% are for gradually eliminating taxes on homesteaded property over 10 years \u2013 not counting taxes for schools and emergency services.<\/p>\n In the meantime Desantis and the Republican supermajority has put municipalities in limbo as they head into early budget preparations.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re monitoring developments closely,\u201d Nussbaum said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Levine Cava said the county has already made substantial budget cuts to make up for a $400 million shortfall by combining departments, not filling vacancies and other measures.<\/p>\n \u201cWe already cut to the bone in this last year.\u201d she said. \u201cWe are looking at contingencies that will, at this point, have to cut basic services that people rely on.\u201d<\/p>\n The Independent\u2019s Tony Winton contributed to this report.<\/p>\n Invest in Local News for Your Town. Your Gift is tax-deductible<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Council-meeting-3-1024x683.jpg\")
FILE \u2013 Benjamin Nussbaum, the Village of Key Biscayne\u2019s chief financial office, speaks to Village Council. (KBI Photo)<\/p>\n
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