Portrait of Ron DeSantis
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Ron DeSantis on Florida Property Taxes

Advocates property tax elimination (strong)

TL;DR

Ron DeSantis strongly supports a ballot measure to eliminate non-school property taxes for primary homeowners across Florida.

Key Points

  • He has floated the idea of convening a special legislative session after the regular session ends in mid-March to finalize a property tax proposal.

  • He noted that local government property tax revenue has nearly doubled since he became governor, rising from $32 billion to $60 billion.

  • The proposed constitutional amendment, if passed by voters, would likely ask residents to approve the elimination of city and county property taxes on homesteads, starting January 2027.

Summary

Ron DeSantis has consistently expressed a desire to eliminate property taxes for homeowners in Florida, often stating that these taxes are equivalent to perpetually paying rent to the government. His core position is to put a comprehensive proposal before Florida voters via a constitutional amendment in the 2026 election ballot. While legislative efforts have focused on phasing out non-school city and county property taxes, DeSantis has indicated a preference for a more sweeping elimination of these taxes for homesteaded properties. This push is framed by him as delivering meaningful relief to taxpayers who deserve to keep more of their money, contrasting the current system with rising local government property tax revenue figures.

The implications of such a significant tax overhaul are widely debated, with economists noting that eliminating property taxes could immediately capitalize into higher home values, potentially benefiting existing owners but worsening affordability for first-time buyers. Furthermore, critics worry about the massive gap in local government revenue that would result, which funds essential services like police and fire protection. While some legislative proposals include provisions to guarantee current funding levels for public safety, questions remain about funding for other necessary services and the potential for a shift to other taxes like sales tax, which could disproportionately affect renters and non-homeowners.

Key Quotes

"Property taxes effectively require homeowners to pay rent to the government,"

"We need to stand for taxpayers and we're going to do that," he said. "I've got different ways that I think we're going to do something very meaningful."

Frequently Asked Questions

Ron DeSantis is a strong advocate for reducing, and ultimately eliminating, property taxes levied on homesteaded primary residences in Florida. He views the tax as an oppressive burden on property owners. His preferred method to achieve this is through a constitutional amendment to be placed on the 2026 election ballot for voter approval.

His position has remained consistently focused on property tax relief, though the specific legislative details being discussed in the Legislature have varied. He generally signals support for the most aggressive cuts, aiming for total abolition of non-school property taxes.

The governor recently suggested that a special legislative session might be necessary after the regular session to ensure a clear and concise property tax proposal is finalized for the ballot. He has repeatedly stated the need to stand for taxpayers against rising local government revenue.