Property Taxes

On "The Florida Roundup," host Tom Hudson spoke with Democratic state Sen. Shev Jones about his view on eliminating property taxes in Florida.

On "The Florida Roundup," state Sen. Shevrin Jones discusses a bill to study eliminating property taxes; FIU Economics Chair Mihaela Pintea on consumer sentiment; and WUSF government reporter Douglas Soule catches us up on the Legislature.

On an episode of "The Florida Roundup," host Tom Hudson speaks with Florida Senate President Ben Albritton about some of the issues he's focusing on this legislative session.

Before any votes occur, legislators are expected to seek feedback from local governments on the economic effects of cutting proprty taxes.

Removing property taxes would weaken local governments and kill the source of most school district funding in Florida, according to the Florida Policy Institute.

Because both referendums address public schools, voters may feel like they have to choose between the two taxes.

This year, affordable housing efforts will get only $2 million, with the remainder being reallocated towards reduced property taxes, sidewalk repairs, and other investments.

County leaders are refusing to place the school district's property tax question on the November ballot even after a judge's ruling telling them to comply. The district says it will fight back.

The referendum would have asked county voters to levy an additional one mill on property taxes to increase pay for teachers and school staffers.

School advocates are hopeful a property tax referendum will pass after a similar proposal failed in 2022. But some officials point out that having two tax measures on the ballot are asking voters for too much.

They include the abortion and recreational marijuana initiatives the Florida Supreme Court signed off on, along with partisan school board elections.

The one millage property tax would cost the average homeowner about $1 a day, and close a wage gap that Superintendent Van Ayres said is causing employees to leave the district.