Affordability has been the No. 1 issue so far in the campaign to elect Florida\u2019s next governor.<\/p>\n
So say Democrats. So say Republicans. So say numerous polls of voters<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, the man who is termed out of the governor\u2019s office after eight years left his imprint on the race for his replacement by unveiling his long-awaited plan to slash local property taxes<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good for everybody, red, blue, none of the above,\u201d DeSantis said during a news conference in Tampa. \u201cYou\u2019re going to get the property tax relief, and I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a partisan issue.\u201d<\/p>\n If anything, the property tax cut proposal changes the subject for the man who has helped put Florida on its current economic trajectory. It was DeSantis who cheered Florida\u2019s population explosion during the pandemic that boosted housing prices. The state\u2019s insurance rates remain higher than they were eight years ago. And while hebashed former President Joe Biden for inflation<\/a> and even pushed through a temporary break on the gas sales tax, DeSantis has held President Donald Trump blameless for higher costs and soaring gas prices.<\/p>\n By pitching the homestead exemption of property taxes up to $500,000, DeSantis shifted the discussion to a cost that will have to be paid by local governments, not the state. On Wednesday, he assured reporters that the state will provide grants to make sure \u201ccore services\u201d won\u2019t get cut.<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear how core services will be defined or just how much this would cost local governments if voters pass the measure in November. Will it impact Florida schools and education? Lawmakers return to Tallahassee next week to hash out the details.<\/p>\n As for the bipartisanship, at least Republicans in the race for governor were quick to endorse the plan.<\/p>\n \u201cI support what the governor wants to accomplish,\u201d<\/a> said U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds on X. \u201cI look forward to the Governor and legislature working together to provide real relief for the people of Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n Former House Speaker Paul Renner said he has his own plan, but supports DeSantis, too.<\/p>\n \u201cI stand with Gov. DeSantis on property tax relief, which is why I outlined a bold proposal on the issue,\u201dRenner said on X. <\/a>\u201cThis is a big step in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n Lt. Gov. Jay Collins retweeted a DeSantis post on X promoting the plan.<\/p>\n Investor James Fishback, often an outlier in the GOP gubernatorial field, praised the plan, too.<\/p>\n \u201cGov. DeSantis is right to phase in the relief so local governments have time to recalibrate their spending,\u201d Fishback said in a statement to the Times. \u201cThis is the beginning of a multi-step, multi-year process that Florida\u2019s next governor will have to oversee.\u201d<\/p>\n Democratic candidates for governor, meanwhile, said they\u2019d like to see more details.<\/p>\n \u201cI look forward to learning more about the governor\u2019s plan,\u201d said former U.S. Rep. David Jolly.<\/p>\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n Tampa Bay Times Election Coverage<\/p>\n Congressional midterms: Can Democrats retake the US House? It could depend on Florida<\/a><\/p>\n Voter issues: These 4 issues make Florida\u2019s midterms a tougher slog for Republicans<\/a><\/p>\n