We asked for your input regarding property taxes and the possibility of them going away and you didn’t disappoint. In all, we collected nearly 3,000 votes from around the state with the vast majority of you voting to do away with the taxes once and for all.
We asked: Do you think property taxes, which largely fund local services, from schools to public safety, should be eliminated in Florida?
Results
Yes: 73.53%
No: 26.47%
Here is some of what you had to say:
There is ‘no free lunch’ you eliminate tax for home owners, who do you think is going to pick up the lost revenue? Well, that’s easy, the rest of us! Florida is made up with a high percentage of retired people. Myself included, I’m a renter, cashed out years ago and conservatively invested the equity. Look at the condo and home prices in Naples. Most high end owner’s don’t need a break on property taxes. Cut the sales tax so we all can benefit. Up the tax on the ‘snow birds’ I’m one, five in Indianapolis and Seven in Naples. I recently sold my condo in Florida at the high in 2022, invested the one time capital gains. All I want is to enjoy my time left with my friends and family.
Therefore, don’t be hoodwinked into a scheme for those who already have most of the money.
— Henning Anderson, Naples
The “property tax” debate is certainly a topic of great interest to home owners in Florida, especially those closer to retirement like myself, lower end of Middle Income and on schedule to having my home paid off; yet, I will have the big burden in my retirement phase of having to escrow $600/mo just to pay the annual property taxes. My vote is “Yes”.
The loss of income at the local level will be huge, and that is why I imagine this will not happen, but I am ok with higher SALES taxes to offset the counties’ loss of income, and other ideas. Even if property tax were eliminated for the retirees, it would be a great impact to save the American Middle-Class Retiree Dream of having your home paid off and “staying in your own home”.
–Mary Africano, Palm Harbor
The elimination sounds good but what are the details however are we on to fund schools, etc. of course there’s wasting government. How can we cut it?
Do you raise the tourist tax raise the gas tax is that enough?
–Douglas Voss, Naples
I live here 6 months and 6 months in Michigan. I own a house in Spanish Wells. I suggest anyone who is here 6 months or longer only pay 50% tax! That would help everyone and give you money.
— Linda Sletten, Bonita Springs
It’s my understanding that Florida is one of the worst states for financial stability. It makes no sense to eliminate such a huge income source as Property Taxes.
–Michael Long, Marco Island
There are two elements to the property tax question. First, is a tax on real estate an effective method of funding local governments for education, public safety, infrastructure and other necessities? I have resided in PA, NJ, NY, CA, VA and FL. Taxing property is a long established approach to raise local tax revenue. Other sources include sales tax and earned income tax. It is important for the planning and predictability of tax revenue for executing the responsibilities of local government. And it has worked over the long haul.
The second question is spending. States and local governments have wildly different spending budgets that do not seem justified based on the circumstances. NJ, CA and NY appear to be out of control but the politicians who are gleeful spending other people’s money keep getting elected, somewhat incomprehensible.
I have also found that the smaller the county, city or town the more accountability there is by the local elected leaders. I favor taxing authority at the level closest to the voters to be most effective in avoiding reckless spending.
Florida has done an exemplary job in controlling spending. And Gov DeSantis deserves great credit. I live in Palm Beach, which has a large budget compared with the population. But there is a high level of transparency and accountability. Importantly, those who have property in the town support the level of spending.
–Tony Dolanski, Palm Beach
The proposal I am familiar with would eliminate property tax on residential homesteads and would not stop the school tax millage. So our schools would still be funded, residential rental properties would still be taxed, agricultural/other and business properties would still be taxed.
DeSantis thinks governments would have to reduce budgets; I don’t ― at least not for long. To maintain the same level of revenue they could raise millage for non-homestead properties, increase local sales fractions, or (to ensure this is passed to tourists) raise local and aviation fuel taxes, hotel TDT and surtax, or parking lot, boat dock, and aircraft hangar taxes.The state might also raise “impact fees” or (nonresident) recreational licenses.
In short, I think eliminating homestead property tax would have negligible effect on government services and instead shift that burden to profit-generating enterprises.
–Skip Pletcher, Jacksonville
Looking at any governmental tax assessment is good but one has to look at the effect of the present ad valorem tax, both positive and negative. I am going to keep by comments specifically to the School Board State and Local millage rate, which is approximately forty four percent of our total taxes, I am not sure how our governor would provide sufficient dollars to pay for salaries and facilities, but a look at the past would be helpful. My knowledge of the past is the twenty eight years I spent as a Collier County teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Specifically I am going to compare today’s use of ad valorem taxes for new school construction and maintenance,
In 1967 I was hired to teach and coach at Naples High School, a somewhat small school of about one thousand students. Within the next two years the student enrollment had grown to exceed the capacity of the school. The School Board recognized the need for a new high school and an established bond referendum in 1972 to build a new high school. The bond referendum failed and resulted in Naples HighSchool using double sessions to facilitate the number of students. My duties during this period was as Assistant Principal of Attendance and Discipline, an impossible job. The bond referendum was finally passed the following year which provided funds for the construction of Lely High School . Because of the timing of when the bond referendum passed, it became obvious the Lely High School would not be completed for the beginning of the 1974 school year, so for the first semester Naples High School went to Naples High School in the morning and Lely High went to Naples High School in the afternoon.
Governor, bond referndums are clearly not an acceptable way for construction and maintenance of schools and ancillary facilities in the state of Florida.
Collier County continued it’s growth and soon both Naples High and Lely High were at or exceeded their capacity, resulting in the need for an additional high school planned for the 1978-79 school year. Facilities funding was a serious problem, not only in Collier County, but thought the State of Florida. The State of Florida passed legislation that would provide money for academic facilities in Counties that met certain criteria, Collier County met the State requirement and State funds were approved for the “academic building” of Barron Collier High School. The Athletic Facilities were to be the responsibility of the School Board.
The School District had a 180 acre site which they had precoured by trading a section of land that had been deeded to the school system by earlier legislation. (Interesting history). Barron Collier was the first facility on this site, that is now home to Osceola Elementary, County Administration Offices, and maintenance and transportation department. Construction of Barron Collier High School started in 1977 with in anticipation of opening in the fall of 1978. I was appointed principal of Barron Collier in April of 1978 and soon learned that their were insufficient funds available foroutside athletic facilities. In August of 1978 Barron Collier open it’s doors to approximately 1200 students (staffed for 1080) , the gym, band, chorus room, auditorium, were not available because It was necessary to complete the academic classrooms. For the next two years funding was not available to complete the outside athletic facilities which resulted in “ home games” being played at off site facilities.
Governor, the combination of mixing State Funds for Academic Facilities and School Board funds for Athletic Facilities was not a viable.way of funding.
The planning and construction of Aubrey Rogers High School, which opened in August 2023, under the guidelines of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) provided the funds. It is important for the tax payers in Collier County to know that past and present Board members, Superintendent’s and Financials Employee utilized the FEFP as it was intended. Aubrey Rogers High School was funded by accumulating Ad valorem taxes over the past years, thus there was no need for a special assessment, a Hugh saving for the residents of Collier County.
Governor, I do not know if you have plans to recommend change in the Florida Education Finance Program. Historically there were many problems associated with funding education, especially for a growth state like Florida.
–Paul Manley, Naples
The roughly $20 Billion estimated tax loss is too much to make up with the elimination of the Florida Property Tax.
As a 21 year retired Florida resident, I am more prejudiced towards receiving an increase in my homestead exemption.
No property taxes would be great for those who have purchased homes in the last few years, or for those in Florida who are first-time homebuyers. I understand the affordability issue. However, eliminating the property taxes, would be a detriment of the majority of the existing Florida homeowner base.
Again, the roughly $20 Billion loss in tax revenue would be a drain on expenditures like schools, police, utilities, infrastructure costs for people/businesses moving to Florida, infrastructure maintenance, etc. Tourist revenue dollars should be directed elsewhere.
–Rob Lauterbach, Estero
How about just doubling the current Homestead Exemption with an annual adjustment equal to the annual Social Security inflation adjustment. The annual adjustment would be no change to a max increase of 3%.
Thanks for your reporting on this matter.
–J. Emmett, Naples
I’m strongly not in favor of eliminating all property taxes for two prime reasons . First, they fund many critical needs including schools, police, etc. which would need to be funded by new additional taxation. The need to pay for these services doesn’t just go away so the cost to maintain them would simply result in a new bundle of taxes we would need to pay that would offset any property tax savings.
Secondly, I have no interest in paying a larger share of these costs to offset the significant dollar reduction of multi-million dollar residences. The net result would be a greater tax burden on the middle class.
–Ron Kapcsos, Estero
Jon Haasch. I live in Ft Myers FL. Property taxes support the services that are essential to urban and rural communities.People want parks, recreational areas, police, fire, court system, schools, government workers, etc for a desirable community to live in. Less police means more crime and court costs. Desantis lives in a dream world of fantasy. Money is needed for everything in everyone’s lives.The property tax system is needed to support our lifestyles. A state income tax is the only solution for a steady source of tax money. The taxes should start at $100,000 yearly for ALL personal income. Florida needs personal investment tax on income exceeding $50,000 yearly. A majority of residents do not make over the limits listed. The more affluent people should pay for the schools, roads, government services, etc that benefit the businesses and people who take in the profits from the majority of workers taxes. Florida has $52 billion dollars in accounts. The amount is too large. The interest from the accounts pay the difference between the actual employee’s contribution and the final amount at retirement. Pay 100% of the funds needed every pay period and reduce the funds needed from interest on state accounts. The 100% up front payments is a great incentive to be a teacher and guarantee a full payment at retirement. Build more courts, jails, prisons and prison guards to reduce the number of arrests of repeat offenders. Law enforcement and courts would see a huge reduction in arrests and crimes. Law enforcement is not wasting OUR tax money on arresting a person 5, 10 or 15 times. Build more schools, pay higher teachers salaries, parks, and roads with the increased funds from a reduction of the state’s accounts.Create full time industries not the 5 month service jobs that do not support a good lifestyle for 2 people. Who can afford a home or apartment on part time work? The state’s accounts should be limited to $10 billion. Invest in the people of Florida, not huge investment firms holding our tax dollars and reaping huge fees.
–Jon Haasch, Fort Myers
We will have to pay for this stuff one way or another. I prefer to control the flow of money locally. When I look around at our clean well functioning communities I am reluctant to pass authority to the state government.
–Pat McCabe, Naples
Currently, Florida has a good system for ensuring homeowners don’t bear the brunt of expenses caused by tourist impact or snowbird visitors. Our property taxes include homestead exemptions, disability exemptions, and Save our Homes credits that help mitigate costs for things we don’t cause.
But the rental property market is hot in Florida and people trying to make money from offering homes to visitors, snowbirds, and transient workers are mad that they pay a higher proportion. But it’s fair because these types of units contribute more to the expenses of running SW Florida. There are also people who own vacation homes that are complaining, but really, they aren’t the ones requiring tax relief, they just don’t want to pay.
However, these businesses and second home people have money and they donate a lot to campaigns so our politicians are listening to them closely. If the purpose was to make homes more affordable for homeowners, the answer would be to expand homestead exemptions, not eliminate property taxes.
The plan to make up the difference will be either higher sales taxes or an income tax. And of course, the rental property owners or vacation home owners won’t pay their fair share there, because they aren’t here year round having to buy things and they won’t be subject to Florida state income tax, they will pay state tax in their home state.
So we year round homeowners will be stuck making up the difference with a heavier burden than before. We may rejoice when our property taxes include decreases, but then we will cry when we pay much higher sales tax. Today, I manage to live within my means by buying a home I can afford and paying taxes based on my modest home. But if the burden to make up the difference is a new sales tax, I will have no control over limiting my costs because necessary purchases will be taxed at a higher rate whether I can afford them or not.
Governor DeSantis has said cost savings from waste in government can be used to make up the difference. If that’s true, institute all the cost savings first, then our taxes can be lowered to reflect the savings rather than eliminating the property taxes first and hoping you can cut enough vital services to make up the short fall. He’s putting the cart before the horse.
There are very few ways to ease burdens on modest homeowners who make up the important work force, but property taxes are one of the only ways left that tax the rental property owners, snowbirds, and vacation home owners based on what it actually costs to support their higher traffic, impact to neighborhoods, and higher government service loads they cause SW Florida.
The ONLY reason this is being floated as a possibility is that it benefits the large donors to political campaigns. Offering relief to strapped homeowners (the reason they flaunt for the idea) can be done so much more elegantly by simply increasing the homestead exemption or the SOH credit. That fairly assigns the relief to those that need it, as opposed to the wealthy that want it.
For anyone in favor of this change, ask yourself, would you rather pay for services in a predictable, known fashion that is tax deductible, or pay higher sales tax on every necessary purchase, with no control whatsoever over what that increased percentage would be, or maybe a state income tax, which will move the burden of paying for services away from the wealthy who don’t live here year round and put it all on your shoulders?
(You may use any or all of this in any way you choose, I have never been so mad at politicians as I am at this blatant attempt to coddle wealthy donors over the people that make SW Florida work)
–Teresa Hiatt, Fort Myers
We both have fixed incomes from public employment. We are homesteaded in Collier County. As costs for insurance and medical needs balloons, it becomes a struggle to pay property taxes each year.
–Alan Mayberry, Collier County
None of the proponents of eliminating property taxes has explained what will replace the property tax. Is there $55 billion that can be cut? Will it mean a higher sales taxes or higher business taxes? We aren’t told.
–Andrew Terhune, Naples
Contact Torres at jtorres@floridatoday.com. You can follow him on X @johnalbertorres
Multimedia editor Rob Landers contributed to this report.
