(The Center Square) – Legislation that would end non-school property taxes for homesteaded properties passed the Florida House on Thursday.
House Joint Resolution 203, one of seven property tax relief proposals in the chamber, passed by an 80-30 vote. As a constitutional amendment, it would appear on voters’ ballots in November if passed by the full legislature. But the chances of that appear increasingly unlikely; there is no consensus between the House and Senate and Gov. Ron DeSantis on which plan to offer.
The House measure would save Florida taxpayers an estimated $4.8 billion during its first year of implementation and $14.7 billion once fully implemented, according to Rep. Monique Miller, R-Palm Bay, who sponsored the bill.
Some lawmakers argued that local governments will struggle to fund essential services without the revenue.
“This is ridiculous and wild to me, the fact that we are about to cut $4.8 billion worth of revenue from local government,” said Rep. Angela Nixon, D-Jacksonville. “And so what’s really interesting to me and frustrating to me is the fact that the state is continually cutting funding to our essential services and our communities.”
The bill has a provision that prohibits local governments from reducing first responder funding below the amount budgeted in the local fiscal year 2025-2026 or 2026-2027, whichever was greater.
Asked by Nixon whether she was concerned about the legislation’s effect on essential services, Miller said she isn’t.
“In 2020 we were able to do all of this with less money than you will have after this bill takes its full effect. So I am absolutely confident that we can find a path forward without significant impact to services,” said Miller.
She said in Orange County, the local budget has increased by 90% over the past five years.
“I am absolutely confident that there are ways to cut costs in that, because the population has not gone up by 90%,” Miller said.
Rep. Jennifer Harris, D-Orlando, called the bill a ruse to avoid dealing with the real struggles Florida faces.
“Floridians are not dumb and they see through this,” said Harris. “They understand what’s going on. They understand that we are putting money in one pocket and we’re going to be taking twice as much out of another. They understand that.”
Others argued the focus should be on the benefit to taxpayers.
“The only thing we’re talking about is the government’s got to grow, the government’s got to solve everything,” said Rep. Randy Maggard, a Republican from Pasco County. “That’s not the answer. I can tell you for me, I want that money in my pocket. I don’t want the government spending it for me.”
