Property Taxes

The Florida house of representatives approved a ballot measure for this year’s election. The proposal would allow voters to approve an elimination of all non-school property taxes for homestead property. Sixty percent of those voting would need to approve it, then it would become part of the state Constitution. This proposal still needs to be approved by the state Senate in order to make it on the ballot, and it will have a much harder battle there, because the Democrats are absolutely opposed to it.

You will recall from my post of a couple of years ago:

In Florida, the tax assessor decides what the “fair market value” of your house is. The taxable value is then calculated by taking the market value and subtracting your homestead exemption. In order to have a homestead exemption, the owner of the property must live there as their primary residence. In other words, commercial and rental property doesn’t get a homestead exemption. The taxable value is then subject to being taxed. If you want more detail on how all of this works, click on this link to my previous post.

There are also numerous carve-outs for various groups.

• The homestead exemption is $25,000 on the first $50k of value, then another $25,000 for the next $50k of value, but that second $25k is only for non-school taxes.
• Additional exemption for residents 65 or older who make less than $38,686 per year
• Total exemption for totally and permanently disabled veterans, surviving spouses, or first responders.
• No property taxes for  active-duty personnel deployed outside the U.S.

The result of all of this is many people already don’t pay taxes. In my town, there are 1,000 homes total. Two neighborhoods were recently built in the town- my own, and one other. Those two communities have 200 homes in them, so 20% of the town’s homes. Those homes pay more than 50% of the town’s taxes. Many homes in the town, including those of three of the five city commissioners, pay no taxes at all.

As a result, taxes are very tilted. Renters pay more than owners (because landlords don’t get tax exemptions). Those who have lived in their homes for a long time don’t pay any (or very little) in taxes.

The left is pissed about this. They are all singing the same song- claiming that this is a tax break for so-called “boomers” because GenZ doesn’t own houses. Isn’t it odd that the left constantly wants corporations to pay taxes, but they finally understand that companies don’t pay taxes- instead, they treat taxes like any other expense, and pass those expenses on to the consumer.

The left claims that property taxes are essential for things like police and fire, but ignore that overall, ad valorum taxes are only 18% of local tax revenues. Still they claim the following would be affected, but are lying:

• Law enforcement
• Social services
• Parks
• Environmental programs
• Fire districts
• Emergency medical services
• Schools
• Roads

Law enforcement, fire, EMS, and police are specifically mentioned in the law and will have required funding. School taxes are exempt. What this leaves is Social services (giveaways), Parks and environmental programs (luxury items), and roads (already funded by gasoline taxes and tolls). What the left is upset about is the funding for things like learing centers and other graft that permits them to hand out money to their wealthy well connected patrons.

The Senate session ends March 13. The odds that this gets passed before then are long. It probably won’t happen.