People in fiscally constrained counties can count on a state backstop if voters approve November’s property tax amendment, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Assuming it passes, we’ll have to do a Special Session to implement it, and we are going to do help for rural. That’s easy. So I just say that, because I’d hate for people to deprive themselves of a really significant tax break and more control over your own home because you think somehow they’re not going to have money to have a police force or something,” DeSantis said in Bonifay.
The proposal would increase the homestead exemption to $150,000 next year and $250,000 in 2028.
Florida’s 29 fiscally constrained counties are Baker, Bradford, Calhoun, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Okeechobee, Putnam, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla and Washington.
Some fiscally constrained counties could lose anywhere from a fifth to a third of their revenue in the coming years if voters pass the amendment, according to the Florida Association of Counties.
But DeSantis has called that loss “budget dust” and said the impact simply can be socialized through dedicating state funds to absorb the local impact.
On Thursday, he noted that even under his “bolder” original proposal that extended the homestead exemption increase to school taxes, the impact was roughly $200 million a year.
“Our budget’s $117 billion. Our surplus is $18 billion. Are you telling me we can’t spare a couple hundred million?” DeSantis said.
It’s unclear how enduring the rosy picture DeSantis paints ultimately will be. While the Office of Economic and Demographic Research expected as of Fall 2025 a roughly $3.8 billion surplus in Fiscal Year 2026-27, deficits are predicted in the next two years of roughly $1.5 billion and $6.6 billion, respectively.
Under the amendment, local governments would be limited in what they can fund with remaining ad valorem revenue to categories including public safety, infrastructure, schools, natural resource projects, debt service, pensions and government operations. County constitutional officers — such as Elections Supervisors, Clerks of Court and Property Appraisers — as well as County and City Commissions, would also be funded.
These counties are fiscally constrained due to low population and lack of industry. Yet DeSantis said the tax break on primary homes is a rising tide that lifts all boats. He predicted that eventually these areas would generate enough revenue to where they wouldn’t need state subsidies.
“The residents will have more money in their pocket. The economy will do better. The economic base will do better. You’ll start to develop naturally more tax revenue. You get more sales tax, you get more this, because you’ll have increased economic activity,” DeSantis said.
The amendment language was revised recently to comply with a court order. At least one survey from Sachs Media says voters like the new language. While 60% of likely voters polled said they supported the original verbiage, the number rises to 65% on the second draft.
Other polling of the question has suggested that voters are less likely to support the break for primary homes when they learn local budgets will be cut.
A survey from Steve Vancore, who our readers know from the “salt shaker” test of various polls in the state, shows 40% support for the original language when voters learn of funding cuts for local governments. A University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab survey showed 45% support when told nearly $12 billion would be siphoned from local budgets statewide. A James Madison Institute survey showed 55% support.
Public safety organizations are opposed to the plan. The Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA), the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Florida Professional Firefighters all say the measure would cut vital services and imperil funding for emergency response.
DeSantis’ bet is that Republican voters in rural areas can help make up some of the numbers. But the plan comes at the expense of larger state priorities, compelling major metros with legacy costs and fast-growing bedroom communities to shoulder burden for areas whose local governments have never figured out how to capitalize on Florida’s recent economic boom.
A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski
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