Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to bring his property tax fight to Bradenton today, where he is expected to sign a bill that tightens how much local governments can raise property tax rates. The noon press conference will spotlight a measure that more closely ties allowable millage increases to the so-called rolled-back rate, the figure that would generate roughly the same revenue as the prior year. If signed as expected, it would mark a key move in the governor’s broader spring push to trim homeowners’ property tax bills.
As reported by Tampa Bay 28, reporter Forrest Saunders said DeSantis will hold the Bradenton event at noon and is expected to sign the implementing bill during the appearance. The station plans to stream the remarks on its website and Facebook, framing the gathering as a live, local ceremony where state policy will collide with the realities of city and county budgeting.
What is in the implementing bill
The implementing measure, CS/SB 4-F, revises definitions and statutory limits on millage rates and makes the rolled-back rate the default ceiling for most local tax increases, according to the Florida Senate. That official record notes the measure was filed in late May, cleared both chambers, then was signed by legislative officers and presented to the governor yesterday. The bill narrows the ways local bodies can exceed the new caps, often requiring supermajority votes or referenda for larger hikes, so routine budget padding is about to get a lot harder.
How it fits into DeSantis’ push
DeSantis has wrapped the broader package, branded "Save Our Homes," in the language of sweeping property tax relief and called a special session to move it, the Executive Office of the Governor said in a May 27 press release. Lawmakers in that special session adjusted parts of the proposal as it moved through committees and floor debates, changes that supporters say help protect school funding while critics warn the plan shifts pressure onto local services, according to WUSF. The governor’s release outlined an eventual path for larger homestead exemptions and a state trust fund to support core services, while this implementing bill is written to take immediate effect for millage limits.
Local leaders warn of budget hits
Municipal and county officials have cautioned that tighter millage caps could force tough choices, from trimming park and library hours to delaying infrastructure projects, or shifting more of the tax load onto renters and businesses. An analysis cited by the USA TODAY Network points to estimates from the Florida Association of Counties that county revenue losses could total about $3.6 billion in 2027 and $6.4 billion in 2028 under the exemption increases and assessment caps. That projection covers counties only, and analysts say cities and special districts would be staring at additional shortfalls on top of that.
What to watch next
With the implementing bill already presented to the governor on June 23, according to the Florida Senate, the public signing in Bradenton and any immediate instructions to local officials are the next big items for municipal budget planners to watch. The constitutional amendment that would expand homestead exemptions still needs approval from 60 percent of voters in November to take broader effect, per the governor’s outline. Even if voters reject that referendum, the implementing law’s tighter millage rules would already be locked in place for upcoming fiscal cycles.
