OKEECHOBEE- At the June County Coalition for Responsible Management of Lake Okeechobee meeting, local officials reacted to the recent property tax amendment added to the ballot this November

A few days before the meeting, Florida lawmakers voted to approve a constitutional amendment proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that would ask voters to begin phasing out property taxes on homesteaded homes.

The amendment will now be on the ballot this November, where voters will have the choice to approve it.

Gov. DeSantis unveiled his “Save Our Homes” property tax elimination proposal at the end of May, before calling for a special session of the Florida Legislature. The proposal exempts the first $250,000 of a homestead’s value from taxation and requiring, through law, a schedule for full elimination.

The proposal also required local governments to use remaining property taxes solely for core public needs including public safety, education and schools, infrastructure, and natural resources.

“All of us are concerned about what’s going to happen to our budgets with what is going on in Tallahassee,” said Okeechobee County Commissioner David Hazellief during his opening comments at the Lake County Coalition meeting.

The proposed constitutional amendment would need approval from 60% of voters to take effect. If passed, it would gradually increase the homestead exemption on primary residences from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027, then to $250,000 in 2028, after which it would be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index. New Florida residents who arrive after December 31 this year would have to wait five years before qualifying for the benefit.

“I hope we’re all committed to educating our voters about the importance of tax reform,” said Martin County Commissioner Sarah Heard. “It’s not hyperbole. We’re going to have massive impacts in our counties should the referendum pass.”

Commissioner Heard said that in Martin County, the first year of the homestead exemption on primary residences will produce a $98 million deficit. In the second year, Commissioner Heard said that deficit would increase to $120 million.

“This is going to cause real impacts to our infrastructure, to our parks, to our beaches, and to our libraries,” continued Commissioner Heard.

Palm Beach County Mayor Sara Baxter reported that if the property tax amendment passes, the two-year impact to the Palm Beach County budget will be $398 million.

State legislators did make some adjustments to the plan created by Gov. DeSantis. The House and Senate committees made changes to ensure that homeowners in Florida would continue to pay property taxes designated for schools. Legislators also refined the proposed constitutional amendment to specify that locally elected offices, such as clerks of court and elections supervisors, would remain funded through property taxes.

“Property tax revenue collected by local governments has nearly doubled in the past seven years and is expected to reach an astounding $83 billion by 2032,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Florida homeowners need relief. Now is the time to stand up for taxpayers, enact a historic reform, and save the home of every Floridian.”