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Florida Legislature OKs Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to let voters decide whether to end property taxes Source: bit.ly/4ugbQay What to know --Florida voters may end property taxes in November. --Legislature approved a constitutional amendment for the ballot. --Property tax revenue in Florida rose from $32 billion to $60 billion since 2019. Florida voters will get the chance in November to make the Sunshine State the first in the nation to end property taxes. The Legislature voted Tuesday to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would slash property taxes for many homeowners and eventually eliminate them completely. If the ballot measure is approved by 60% of voters — the threshold required for constitutional amendments in Florida — residential homeowners will save thousands on their property tax bills and many will avoid paying the tax entirely. The plan was ushered through at the behest of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a term-limited Republican who is concluding his last year in office and considering a 2028 presidential run. Mr. DeSantis argued that the reduction would help homeowners remain in their homes by ending the steady annual increases in property taxes, which he said have caused hardship for many. “It’s something that has been very difficult for a lot of people to afford,” Mr. DeSantis said, labeling it “an involuntary tax.” Mr. DeSantis cited massive increases in property tax revenue collected by counties across Florida and evidence of millions of dollars in wasteful spending by local governments exposed by the newly created Florida Department of Government Efficiency. Residential property taxes collected by Florida’s county and local governments have almost doubled from $32 billion in 2019 to $60 billion this year, much of it because of the rising valuations of homes. The increase in tax revenue has far outpaced the state’s 9% population growth. State lawmakers on Tuesday debated the loss of tax revenue and its implications for local governments. Those supporting the ballot measure to slash property taxes said it would force governments to eliminate wasteful spending, including exorbitant salaries for government employees and funding of questionable projects. In Miami-Dade County, for example, county attorneys earn annual salaries of up to $470,000. Payroll is the county’s largest single expense. “If my local elected officials are unwilling to exercise financial prudence, then let the people decide how they wish to allocate their resources,” said state Sen. Ileana Garcia, a Republican representing Miami-Dade County. “No one should endure the heartbreaking prospect of losing their home after diligently fulfilling their responsibilities.” The plan passed by the Florida Legislature would increase the current $50,000 homestead exemption to $150,000 beginning in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028, excluding school district taxes. The amendment would require the Legislature to develop a plan to phase out the remaining property tax. The measure passed 30-9 in the Senate and 75-26 in the House. Opponents warned that the tax cuts would make it difficult for governments to fund essential services. Unlike most other states, Florida does not have an income tax and relies on property taxes, sales tax and other revenue to fund services. “Cities and counties across Florida are asking the same question: How do we maintain services when the revenue disappears? What happens when communities across Florida are forced to choose between libraries and road maintenance, between parks and public health, between housing programs and basic services?” said Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis, a Democrat representing Orlando. Lawmakers made last-minute changes to the DeSantis proposal to preserve school district taxes after lobbyists warned that the second-year property tax cut would cost the state’s public schools billions of dollars annually. Schools have their own millage rate and collect from residents based on the taxable value of their property, with a $25,000 exemption for residential homes. Sen. Bryan Avila, a Republican representing Miami Springs and sponsor of the legislation, called the constitutional amendment “historic” and said it would prioritize tax relief for Florida homeowners. More than a dozen states are weighing proposals to end or reduce residential property taxes, but none has moved as aggressively as Florida.