Florida voters will decide in November whether to approve a controversial constitutional amendment which would dramatically slash property tax bills for millions of homeowners in the state while potentially hurting renters, according to critics.
The proposal, Amendment 3, was approved by the Florida legislature in June between the House, the Senate, and Governor Ron DeSantis, who first advocated for the complete elimination of property taxes in the state.
While much-discussed and long-awaited, now it is set to be put on the ballot in November (with whatever wording might be decided after ) the proposal is facing mounting criticism—including by Republicans.
Supporters argue that the measure would provide much-needed relief for homeowners struggling as a result of years of rising insurance and housing costs, especially seniors.
Critics warn that the cuts are likely to shift costs onto renters and local governments, potentially leading to higher fees, reduced services, and rent increases.
Could Rent Go Up for Floridians?
Whether rent will go up as a result of the amendment is one of the central points of dispute surrounding the proposal.
According to the independent tax policy nonprofit the Tax Foundation, if voters approve Amendment 3 in November, “[e]liminating such a sizable share of Florida’s property tax base would not reduce the cost of providing local government services; it would simply require that the lost revenue be generated elsewhere, including from higher millage rates on all property that remains taxable.”
As the independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization Florida Policy Institute (FPI) put it, this would lead “to a cost shift as localities turn to non-homesteaded properties like rental units or commercial properties to raise property taxes.”
If property taxes increase for commercial properties as a result of the amendment, and all businesses end up paying more, “they would have to decide whether to absorb those costs or shift them onto renters and consumers,” the FPI wrote.