TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Leon County\u2019s longest-serving commissioner rallied outside the county courthouse Wednesday, making a direct appeal to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to withdraw an amendment referendum concerning property tax cuts. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want for the governor to appreciate that this thing is not game time ready,\u201d Bill Proctor said. \u201cGovernor, don\u2019t pull the trigger.\u201d <\/p>\n
Proctor represents Leon County\u2019s District 1, which includes the 32304 ZIP code, often considered the poorest in the state. <\/p>\n
Proctor is also inviting the Governor on a tour of his district, so \u201cthat he might glean the frailty, the vulnerableness of which people\u2019s lives are hanging on very thin threads.\u201d <\/p>\n
The message from Proctor\u2019s press conference isn\u2019t new. Local officials across the Sunshine State have expressed varying degrees of alarm as lawmakers voted to add the property tax measure to this November\u2019s ballot. <\/p>\n
Proctor said county officials estimated a potential $84 million loss in property tax revenue in the first two years should the measure pass. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re supposed to operate like everything\u2019s peachy keen,\u201d Proctor said. \u201cWe can\u2019t do it, and it\u2019s going to be difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gov. DeSantis\u2019 office hasn\u2019t responded to WCTV\u2019s request for comment, including whether he\u2019d accept the commissioner\u2019s invitation for a tour. <\/p>\n
The governor has voiced support for property tax cuts as a way to address Florida\u2019s affordability problem, and signed the bill that accompanied the effort from lawmakers to place the property tax question on the ballot. <\/p>\n
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