Paul Renner rolls out plan to eliminate homestead taxes, cut business taxes, provide relief for renters

Former House Speaker Paul Renner is using Tax Day to roll out his plan to bring relief to homeowners.

Speaking in Jacksonville, the city where he first ran for the Legislature, Renner said he wants homestead taxes to go to zero for the “average person.” Renner added that if Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t successful in getting the Legislature to put a constitutional amendment on this year’s ballot dealing with the issue, then he will compel lawmakers to do so if he’s elected.

“We know that property taxes have grown twice as fast as incomes, more than our incomes can afford to keep up. Governor DeSantis has been a leader on this issue. He’s been talking about it for the better part of two years. Unfortunately, the Legislature has failed to act. They’ve done absolutely nothing,” Renner said.

He emphasized that “the Governor himself cannot put anything on the ballot to lower our property taxes. He’s got to get the Legislature — the House and the Senate — to do that. And they have done nothing.”

But the initial failure here may be with the current Governor, who hasn’t yet followed through on what he said he would deliver.

DeSantis has promised a plan since last year to lower property taxes by muscling through amendment language during a Special Session. Despite having months to release a plan, he has failed to produce specifics. He has recently said the “timing” of the relief is in doubt and fretted that lawmakers aren’t on board.

The House, which DeSantis has bashed under the Speaker Daniel Perez, passed a resolution that would have created a path to eliminate homestead taxes by a constitutional amendment on November’s ballot. But the Senate never took it up and the Governor said it didn’t go far enough.

To offset the loss in revenue, Renner believes $34 billion in tax relief can be clawed back from an increase in local collections since 2019.

Cities and counties may have to make some tough decisions, Renner said, as his plan “does require every single government to tighten their belt.”

Universities will have ”fat’ targeted for savings, he said, and Special Districts may also be eyed for cuts.

He also contemplates added taxes on tourists, a “transaction fee” for investors buying homes, and a higher tax burden “on private equity coming in to buy up the state.”

Renner also wants to eliminate 2/3 of property taxes on businesses to incentivize hiring, and also intends to provide “relief for renters.”

Under his plan, he said renters will save “at least $100 a month off rent,” which he believes will allow them to save for future homes.