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<\/a>\nDeSantis pushes property tax reform in ‘fireside chat’<\/p>\n
On the day after Florida Democrats flipped two seats in the special election, Gov. Ron DeSantis sat down for what he called ‘a fireside chat’ with former Senator George Lemieux in West Palm Beach.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The governor discussed plans for property tax reform, an issue on which he has yet to call a special session to address.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“What we want to do is the homesteaded property. We would likely start at the bottom and then phase it in, raising the exclusion until you get to elimination,” DeSantis said. “While you’re doing that, and I have also said I am willing to provide funding for grants for the local governments to ease the transition. Now they are going to have to reduce some of their spending.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I’m sorry we cannot say $60 billion from $32 billion in seven years that should just be unquestioned because that’s wrong, and we have done DOGE audits to show. But if we don’t do anything on property tax, another four or five years, they (county and municipal governments) are going to be taking in $83 billion. That’s our estimate. Well, do you go from $32 (billion) to $83 billion in over 13 years, or would you rather have this property tax exclusion for homestead? I think most people would rather do that.”<\/p>\n
The governor acknowledged that getting property tax reform on the ballot is not a slam dunk and that even some Republicans are resistant to approving it.<\/p>\n
“Personally, I think a lot of these guys don’t really want to do anything on it, or some of them, maybe I should say,” DeSantis said. “But here’s the thing, I don’t think you can be a Republican and not put something on the ballot and then face voters this year.”<\/p>\n
DeSantis didn’t comment on Democrats flipping two seats in the Florida Legislature, but he did say that the political climate is going to be tough for Republicans in the midterms.<\/p>\n
DeSantis signs bill that helps sustain ADAP in Florida, for now<\/p>\n