Florida property tax debate continues after session ends

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Florida property tax debate continues after session ends

Florida legislators last week ended their session without a bill to end all homestead property taxes, a policy that has been promoted by Gov. Ron DeSantis consistently over the past year.
But that doesn't mean the matter is closed.
Lawmakers in Tallahassee will reconvene on April 20 already to finish two other pieces of major business: passing the state budget and drawing a new congressional map. If lawmakers want to get property tax elimination on the November ballot, they will need to pass a bill by May. It will then go to voters and will require a 60% supermajority to make it into the Florida constitution.
DeSantis said in a news conference last week said another special Session is imminent for a tax ballot measure, which was somethings that “he did not want to push in the Regular Session.”
Local elected officials in Brevard County have signaled uneasiness around how government services will be funded if such a referendum were to pass. When discussing infrastructure funding and future development plans, officials have signaled uncertainty around the bill as a factor in their decision making.
Republican legislators have said local governments will have to adjust and make cuts as needed if such a bill were to pass.
Some lawmakers like Palm Bay Republican Monique Miller, a major proponent of the measure, are hopeful that the Senate will take up the bill that the House already passed, one that would eliminate all non-education property taxes on primary homes. Funding for police, fire and emergency services would also be protected under the bill. Both leaders have said they want to come together to finalize the budget. I expect somewhere in there that they'll tackle property taxes based on what they've said," Miller said. "I don't have any indication at this time what will happen. The governor for a number months said he has a plan. We have yet to hear that plan. We have yet to hear the Senate's options. Until we have an indication, it's going to be hard to forecast expectations," she added.
Miller said House Republicans went "all in" on getting rid of property taxes, adding that she was disappointed that the Senate hadn't shown the same level of enthusiasm for the policy. Her hope is that the governor will apply pressure to her colleagues in the upper house come next month's special session.
"It's been so frustrating," Miller said. "I will continue to be the vocal champion in terms of getting something across the line."
Tyler Sirois, the Republican legislator from Merritt Island representing much of Central Brevard, said the bill passed by the House would have "been historic tax relief, but the Senate did not act on it."
"There is some indication the governor would like to see the legislature pass something this summer. I hope the Senate will join us in this effort," Sirois said.
"I hope we make it easier for seniors to downsize to a smaller home without a larger tax bill. I hope we provide relief to families that are seeing costs of everything rise but should feel secure in their home," he added.
Tyler Vazquez is the Growth and Development Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @tyler_vazquez.