Florida’s homestead exemptions are good, but not good enough, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

He said he may talk soon with state lawmakers about increasing the benefit threefold, a move that would require a constitutional amendment.

“We need to limit even further property tax rates,” he said. “We should be tripling the homestead exemption to make sure that our primary homeowners are protected.”

Today, homeowners in the Sunshine State can qualify for an up to $50,000 reduction in the assessed value of their homes, which lowers property taxes. Further benefits are available to veterans, active-duty military service members, disabled first responders, senior citizens and property owners with disabilities.

Florida does not have a statewide property tax, but counties and municipalities do. And while areas in the state have enjoyed lower rates, homeowners in others — including those in Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa — have seen their post-pandemic property tax bills skyrocket.

“Some of these local governments … do a pretty good job, but some of them waste your money, and I’d rather protect you and limit their ability to tax your (property),” DeSantis said Wednesday during a press conference in Miami. “So, we may be working with the Legislature to see (if there are) some things that we can … put on the ballot so that voters have an opportunity to rein in the cost associated with property taxes and get further protections for Florida taxpayers. I think that would be really good, and I think that would be a great thing to leave to future generations.”

Spring Hill Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a staunch ally of the Governor’s, noted on X shortly after DeSantis’ comments that he now has a bill in drafting that would raise the exemption to $75,000. He said it should be filed “within the next week or so.”

“Using the median value, (in) 1990, your homestead accounted for 32% of the value of your home. Today, the current homestead exemption accounts for LESS THAN 10% of the value of your home!” Ingoglia said. “Floridians are demanding tax relief! It’s time to make housing affordable again!”

Far more drastic steps have been floated in recent years, including a proposal Ocala Republican Rep. Ryan Chamberlin carried last year to abolish property taxes in Florida altogether.

DeSantis doesn’t appear to be entirely averse to that idea either.

“I mean, if you were starting a community and a country from scratch, you would never want to tax property and land,” he said. “You buy a house, you own the land, but you’ve got to pay the government for the courtesy of just being able to exercise your property right? Not really a good thing. And so we do have the homestead. It’s effective to a certain extent. But I think it needs to be much better.”

This wasn’t the first time the Governor said homestead exemptions need fixing. During a teaser in Destin last month of his now-released spending plan for the next fiscal year, he said he’d like to see a “crack down on property taxes in the state” through a constitutional amendment.

Post Views: 0

An Orlando city committee has finalized plans to build a $7.5 million memorial to honor the 49 people murdered at the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016.

The new vision is a peaceful place with a reflection pool built where the night club’s dance floor once was and rainbow colors to honor those lost in the mass shooting at the LGBTQ+ club.

“The consensus among several of the committee members is that the design will allow the families and survivors to heal knowing they will soon have a place to honor their loved ones,” the city said in a press release.

The proposed plans will go before Orlando City Commission at a Feb. 24 workshop with the city expected to begin searching for a design/build firm in March.

City spokeswoman Andrea Otero said the city will pull the $7.5 million design and construction costs from the city’s general revenue fund.

“The goal is for those costs to be supplemented with philanthropic dollars, but in the event no dollars are raised, this is an amount the city can fund and ensure the completion of a meaningful memorial in a timely manner,” she said.

For the city, it’s a step closer to finding a way to pay tribute to the lives lost and the survivors after the fiasco of the onePulse Foundation.

The foundation that was raising money to build a controversial $100 million memorial and museum dissolved, leaving the city to restart the process. None of the foundation’s money remained, city officials said last year.

The city started an advisory group to create a new concept.

“The final design concept reflects input from the committee, and feedback received from victims’ families, survivors and community members,” the city said Wednesday.

The memorial at the original Pulse building will include a visitor pavilion containing public accommodations, exhibition space and an indoor gathering space.

A survivor’s tribute wall with seating will be next to a tree planted in their honor.

There will be a garden and an “elliptical walkway with 49 Canopy feature columns honoring the 49 victims with rainbow color glass panels.”

A private gathering space will exist for people to leave behind flowers, tie banners or leave personal mementos for their loved ones.

“Designers from Catalyst Design Group and Baker Barrios Architects worked with the committee to create and refine the final design for the Pulse Memorial,” the city said in a  press release.

Post Views: 0

The Florida Democratic Party (FDP) has announced the candidates it’s supporting through its regular “Take Back Local” program in four March 11 municipal elections across Palm Beach and Pinellas counties.

Two of the four candidates are incumbents, so they’re not really “taking back” anything, though FDP spokesperson Matt Dailey said the program’s name isn’t exactly literal.

FDP Chair Nikki Fried said in a statement that each candidate “has what it takes to win elections.”

“The Florida Democratic Party is focused on making gains at the local level in 2025,” she said, “and we’re proud to invest in their success as we build a brighter future for Florida Democrats.”

The new “Take Back Local” candidates — selected through a “rigorous application and vetting process,” an FDP press note said — will receive grassroots organizing and fundraising support from the state party.

They include:

— Lake Park Commissioner Michael Hensley, one of four incumbents on the Town Commission — including Vice Mayor Kimberly Glas-Castro and Commissioners Mary Beth Taylor and Judith Thomas — running to keep their seats. Two challengers, John Linden and Michael O’Rourke, are also running. The four candidates who score the most votes will take (or hold) their seats on the Town Council.

— Coconut Creek Commissioner Jackie Railey, who faces one challenger, no-party candidate Philippa Sklaar. Races for the Commission’s District C and E seats are also up for grabs.

— Marlene Shaw, who is running for the Gulfport City Council’s Ward 2 seat. She’s one of two candidates, the other being Byron Chalfont, challenging incumbent Council member Christine Brown.

— Dom Vargas, who is running for the District 3 seat on the Boynton Beach Commission. Standing in his way is incumbent Republican Commissioner Thomas Turkin.

Boynton Beach, Coconut Creek and Lake Park are in Palm Beach County. Gulfport is in Pinellas County.

The deadline to register to vote in the March 11 elections is Feb. 10. Voters wishing to cast their ballots by mail must register by Feb. 27.

Post Views: 0