When members of the Florida House Select Committee on Property Taxes will begin meeting later this month, they will not be considering Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call to either eliminate or severely reduce the state’s property taxes.
The Tallahassee Democrat reports Rep. Toby Overdorf (R-Palm City), the bipartisan panel’s co-chairman, said there was “a whole host of items that we’re reviewing and looking at.” Among the concepts that will be reviewed by the committee include increasing the state’s homestead tax exemption that is currently $50,000 for most homeowners and the portability amounts used in determining taxable value under the state’s Save Our Homes law.
“We’re hearing from a lot of constituents that people are feeling trapped in their homes again, because of taxes,” Overdorf said. “They have an unwillingness to sell.”
Overdorf added that “everything is on the table,” but the DeSantis proposals will not be on the agenda, although Overdorf did not overtly state as much.
“We continue to have conservations back and forth with executive team members,” he said, adding, “Whatever policy we wind up doing has to keep in mind that Miami-Dade County is very different from Liberty County or Baker County.”
Last month, DeSantis pledged to put forth a “concrete proposal” that will either end or severely slash his state’s property taxes. No state has ever completely eliminated property taxes, which are the biggest source of dollars for 51 of Florida’s 67 counties.
“I think that property taxes have pinched a lot of people, and I think we got to do something about it,” said DeSantis, who is will not be up for re-election next year due to term limits. “All I will say to that is, stay tuned. I’m already working with folks, we are crunching numbers, we’re doing all these different things. But you are going to have an opportunity to get this done in November 2026.”
Florida is retiring location for many elder people due to the warm weather,but now due to hi property taxes people are looking for different location my opinion is if you are older than 65 year with limited income there should big discount on property tax ,so they do not have to move again which will put extra stress on there life style
Hearing a lot of rumble from new people who sought Florida as their forever home. Only to find out that the taxes and home owners insurance is higher than any other state in the U.S exception California. They are sorry they decided to come to Florida – too damn expensive.
Unbelievable. Tax and spend is what they know how to do. Saving the people of Florida has nothing to do with it. In Florida, you will NEVER own your home. You are renting it from the government. Seniors are most at risk. How do other states, like Texas have far less property tax and still no income tax. Look at it, people! To not even bring it up is criminal.
Cap ad valorem taxes at a maximum of $3,500 per homestead property. Charge $1,500 for homes valued at less than $500k. Between $500k and $1.5 million $2,500. And, $3,500 for homes over $1.5 million. Done! Any homeowner 65 years old, or older, pays no ad valorem taxes, zero. This would bring in many rich retirees that spend lots of money to pay the slightly increased sales tax ( to make up for any tax shortfalls). Can you dig it?
Whoever thought DeSantis was going to reduce or eliminate property taxes was dreaming! There is no possible way to get rid of property taxes. People complain about never owning their home due to taxes but I don’t think people understand that if taxes are done away with, you may not have that well maintained street, road or highway to drive on to get to your home nor police protection, firefighters EMT’s. All of these services have to be paid for. If there are no property taxes, then that lost revenue would have to be made up from either a state income tax or a very high tax on food, probably both since property taxes are so high. Things have gone too far to reign them in now especially with housing being so over valued.
Property tax is next in line to Home Owners Insurance, which the biggest part of your mortgage! Government needs to step in on that one! Most rates are higher than mortgage!