Florida’s economic success story is undeniable. People continue to move here, businesses are expanding here and the state has built a reputation across the world as a low-tax, pro-growth environment. But beneath that success lies a growing tension, one that Governor DeSantis has put front and center. Florida’s prosperity hasn’t translated into affordability.
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The culprit, increasingly, is property taxes.
As a third-generation Floridian who has worked in the real estate industry for decades, I’ve seen the property tax issue snowball over the last few years. In fact, I wrote an op-ed about this topic last year (“No more property taxes? Is it too good to be true?” March 16, 2025) and have since changed my view on the matter. Here’s why.
For one, the cost of everyday life, groceries, gas, childcare and housing continues to climb. And while incomes have risen for some, they haven’t kept pace with the surge in expenses. The result is a quiet squeeze on household finances.
At the same time, property-tax collections have nearly doubled from $32 billion in 2019 to $60 billion today and are projected to reach $83 billion by 2031. That growth isn’t driven by higher tax rates alone, but by rising home values and population influx. Homeowners are paying significantly more each year simply because the market around them has changed.
That dynamic raises a fundamental question: should longtime Florida residents be taxed out of the very communities they helped build?
The governor’s proposal to reduce or even eliminate property taxes on homesteaded properties is rooted in a simple idea: primary residences should be treated differently. By focusing relief on full-time residents while maintaining taxes on second homes, short-term rentals, and commercial properties, the proposal attempts to draw a clear line between living in Florida and profiting from it.
But there’s nothing simple about property-tax transformation, mainly because local governments rely on those funds to cover core services like public safety, fire protection and education. Dismantling local government is not the goal. Refocusing it is — and that requires prioritizing essential functions while trimming nonessential spending.
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There are also legitimate concerns about unintended consequences. Could local governments shift the burden onto businesses? Will new residents be treated fairly if they have to wait for homestead benefits? And how will communities maintain service levels during the transition? These are important questions that need clear answers as the proposal moves through the legislative and ballot process.
The state has long marketed itself as a place where opportunity is accessible and cost of living is manageable. Our tax structure should reflect that. If rising property taxes undermine that promise, especially for longtime residents, then reform becomes less political and more an economic necessity.
What makes this moment significant is not just the policy itself, but the shift in mindset it represents. Property taxes have traditionally been seen as a stable, unavoidable pillar of local funding. Challenging that assumption opens the door to a larger conversation about how growth should benefit residents, not just governments.
Ultimately, voters will decide whether this vision becomes reality. But the message from the governor was clear, in a state defined by growth, the next phase of success may depend on making sure the people who live here can still afford to stay.
Brandon Tucker is a real-estate broker and the executive director of the Florida Landowners Association.
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