Gov. Ron DeSantis reveals that one of the hang-ups in introducing his proposal to end homestead property taxes is when the relief would actually take effect.
“I think the question is timing. How quickly can you get to where your personal residence is excluded from property?” DeSantis said on “Hang out with Sean Hannity.”
While some legislative leaders have said DeSantis wants to wait until the last possible moment to roll out the proposal so people don’t have time to mount opposition, these comments suggest that months after he first pitched the idea, DeSantis is still workshopping its components and can’t figure out when to make it take effect. That’s assuming the Legislature puts it on the ballot and voters support it sufficiently.
DeSantis has floated the idea of the state subsidizing the mere “budget dust” of what would have been property tax collections for 32 of the state’s 67 counties, an idea that incoming Speaker Sam Garrison says he opposes, suggesting that whatever Special Session is called for this concept will have some give and take and drama in the final product.
During the Legislative Session that concluded this month, the House did pass HJR 203, a proposed constitutional amendment by Rep. Monique Miller to eliminate all non-school, non-emergency homestead taxes. However, it was not taken up by the Senate.
DeSantis opposed the House product, saying its proposals were confusing and insufficient.
DeSantis has delayed unveiling his language, saying it’s a matter of getting it right and being coy about specifics, maintaining that a Special Session is necessary and that he’s been working with partners in the Senate to get it done.
Even as a concept, eliminating homestead property taxes wouldn’t pass at this point.
Recent polling from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) found that among likely Midterm voters in the Sunshine State, 56% are for gradually eliminating taxes on homesteaded property over 10 years, not counting taxes for schools and emergency services. That falls below the 60% threshold necessary to approve an amendment.
