A Florida lawmaker is seeking to jump-start efforts to abolish property taxes through a citizens initiative campaign.
WKMG Click Orlando reports Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R-Belleview) announced his plan after his effort to end property taxes failed in the recently concluded legislative session. Under Florida law, a citizens’ initiative requires the garnering of at least 891,523 valid signatures by voters on a petition, which would result in having the measure included on a statewide ballot. The measure would require at least 60% voter approval to take effect as a new constitutional amendment.
“I will help lead an effort to pass a citizen constitutional amendment that bans ad valorem taxes on real estate levied by any level of government,” Chamberlin stated. “Then, the legislature will be forced to implement new solutions to make sure we have a system in place for funding police, fire departments, and schools.”
Chamberlin’s unsuccessful legislative effort would have replaced the revenue from property taxes with money from a transaction fee for all real estate sales coupled with sales and tourism taxes.
“No one is interested in defunding any of the vitally important government service funded by local taxes,” Chamberlin added. “It’s just time to figure out a better way to pay for it than letting government continue to be the owner of all property and impose an onerous tax system on our people.”
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