DeSantis returns to the idea of ​​​​eliminating property taxes in Florida

MIAMI, United States. – The governor of FloridaRon DeSantis, once again pushed for the elimination – in whole or in part – of property taxes as a “relief” formula for homeowners, a proposal that, if successful, would reconfigure the way schools, police, firefighters, municipal services and infrastructure are funded in the state.

In a sign of how far he intends to take the debate, DeSantis affirmed that to eliminate this tax a constitutional amendment submitted to a vote and with an approval threshold of 60% would be necessary. “Property taxes are local, not state. So we would need a constitutional amendment (requires 60% of voters to approve) to eliminate them (which I would support) or even to reform/reduce them (…). I agree that taxing land/property is the most oppressive and ineffective form of taxation,” the governor wrote in X.

DeSantis had already put a middle path on the table while trying to build a majority for constitutional change. On March 31 of this year, his office announced a proposal to send average refunds of $1,000 to homeowners with homes declared as primary, with delivery scheduled this December, and presented the measure as “a step” toward his goal of eliminating the tax through a future amendment.

In that statement, the governor stated: “Property taxes force, in practice, homeowners to pay rent to the government.”

The idea, however, collides with a central problem: the fiscal hole it would leave. An informative document of the Florida Chamber of Commerce points out that property taxes exceed $55 billion in local revenue and are determined at the local level to finance municipal governments and schools; Also, remember that the Florida Constitution prohibits a state property tax. The same text highlights that non-school levies are used to fund public safety and local infrastructure, such as roads and parks.

Beyond fiscal policy, the debate also touches on the real estate market. A report from WLRN cited analysis by an economist Realtor.com which estimated that eliminating all property taxes could raise home values ​​by 7% to 9% immediately by reducing the “operating cost” of ownership.

In the background, furthermore, is the dilemma of the “cost” of elimination. A report cited by public radio WUSFbased on a study by the Florida Policy Institute, indicated that up to $18 billion could be at stake for counties, cities and school districts if the tax is eliminated, with the risk that the reduction will end up pushing service cuts, increases in other taxes or a combination of both.