Taxes

The current rate is 6%. It would reduce annual state tax revenue by $5 billion.

On this episode of "Florida Matters," we discuss Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State address to the Legislature. Topics he covered during the half-house speech included immigration, gun laws, education and property taxes.

A recent report shows that undocumented immigrants paid $1.8 billion in state and local taxes in Florida. That makes the state fourth in the nation when it comes to tax dollars collected from them.

An appeals court agreed that the Hillsborough County School Board had the authority to decide when the proposal would go before voters.

The lawsuit comes after the county commission unexpectedly voted to delay a tax referendum that would fund teacher salaries by two years.

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.

When asked if the taxpayer investment of $775 million for a renovated Jaguars stadium should go to a referendum, Mayor Donna Deegan replied: “I believe the referendum was my election back in May."

Schools will still be part of the Community Investment Tax, but their share will be cut significantly, potentially impacting future capital projects. Voters must renew the CIT in November.

After weeks of testing, an electronic system for filing returns directly to the IRS is now available for taxpayers from 12 selected states, including Florida.

When Florida lawmakers went home after ending the 2024 legislative session Friday, they left behind hundreds of bills that did not pass.

The Community Investment Tax (CIT) has funded schools since 1996, but county commissioners are debating whether to keep the district in its tax plan.

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.