Ron DeSantis Wants to Abolish Property Taxes—But At What Cost?

DeSantis Proposes Eliminating Property Taxes

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed an initiative on Thursday to eliminate the state’s property taxes, arguing that homeowners should not have to “pay rent to the government” in perpetuity. The governor has repeatedly emphasized the need for financial relief for residents, making property tax reduction a key talking point in recent weeks. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Funding Challenges for Public Services

The proposal would require a major restructuring of state and local government budgets, as property taxes serve as a major funding source for public schools, law enforcement, and infrastructure projects across Florida. In Miami-Dade County alone, officials project nearly $3 billion in property tax revenue for the current fiscal year, accounting for 37% of the county’s operating budget. David Benbennick / Wikimedia

Democratic Opposition to the Proposal

Democratic leaders have strongly opposed the plan, warning of the severe potential consequences of such a policy. "It’s fine for those people who will never need fire or rescue or have kids in school," said Florida Senate Democratic leader Jason Pizzo. "We don’t have a real viable substitute, we just don’t have income to offset the shortfalls." Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK

Projected $43 Billion Shortfall

The Florida Policy Institute estimates that eliminating property taxes statewide would create a $43 billion shortfall, forcing lawmakers to find alternative revenue sources or implement significant budget cuts. While Republican State Senator Jonathan Martin has introduced a bill to study the feasibility of the plan, critics argue that it would devastate local government funding and shift financial burdens elsewhere. Foto-Rabe / Pixabay

DeSantis Rejects Sales Tax Increases

In response to speculation about replacing property tax revenue with higher sales taxes, DeSantis assured residents that he would veto any proposed sales tax increases. Instead, he suggested that Florida could "offload" tax burdens onto tourists and non-residents. However, his office has not provided concrete details on how this strategy would sustain essential public services. Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia

Experts Question Proposal’s Viability

Some tax experts are skeptical of the plan’s viability. Thomas Brosy, a senior research associate at the Tax Policy Center, called the proposal “unlikely” and “unusual,” emphasizing that Florida’s balanced budget requirement would make it difficult to offset lost revenue without severe cuts to essential services, Bloomberg reported. According to the Florida Policy Institute, property taxes account for 18% of county revenue, 17% of municipal revenue, and up to 60% of school district funding across the state. stevepb / Pixabay

Constitutional Amendment Required

A constitutional amendment would be necessary to enact this drastic policy change. The process would require collecting enough signatures to place the measure on the ballot and securing at least 60% voter approval. While the proposal has some support among lawmakers, it faces significant hurdles before becoming a reality. Element5 Digital / Pexels