Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has sparked a conversation with his recent indication of support for abolishing property taxes in the state. DeSantis expressed his viewpoint in response to a user's comment on X, which was part of a dialogue that began with a post about gas can regulations.
"Property Taxes should not be charged based on assumed value for new construction homes. I built my house affordably I should have affordable property taxes to match," a user wrote. The Governor's public reply was clear: "I agree!" He went on to explain, "Property taxes are local, not state. So we’d need to do a constitutional amendment (requires 60% of voters to approve) to eliminate them (which I would support) or even to reform/lower them…" as reported by NBC Miami. It is noteworthy that this acknowledgment comes with no concrete proposal of how to adequately replace the revenue that property taxes currently generate for essential local services.
Florida relies heavily on property tax revenue to fund essential services such as public schools, police and fire departments, road maintenance, and community amenities like parks. However, in a state known for its tax-friendly reputation and absence of a state income tax, Governor Ron DeSantis's proposal to eliminate property taxes marks a significant and bold shift in fiscal policy. Currently, Florida offsets the lack of a state income tax through other sources, including sales and corporate income taxes.
As this idea continues to unfold, the implications of such a policy change are yet to be fully understood. DeSantis did not elaborate on strategies for recouping the potential loss in revenue, but he did emphasize his intent to potentially put the boldest amendment on the ballot that has a chance of getting that 60%. This push aligns with his wife, Casey DeSantis's sentiments about limiting federal government involvement, as she previously expressed in response to a post by Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy—an interaction that indeed led to the Governor's property tax statements. Details of these exchanges can be found through reporting by WFLA.
