Overview
- Florida League of Cities released a Wichita State University microsimulation finding homestead tax elimination would cut ad valorem revenue by about 38% and reduce general funds by roughly 14%.
- Property taxes provide about 43% of municipal general fund revenue, while public safety already consumes more than 56% of those funds and exceeds property tax collections across cities of all sizes.
- High fixed-dollar exemptions of $250,000 to $500,000 would still produce 25% to 35% revenue losses, whereas redesigned “clean‑slate” approaches such as a 32% discount or a $100,000 just‑value exemption could yield net gains.
- The analysis says smaller and rural communities would face the steepest service cuts without replacement revenue, with likely impacts on police, fire, public works and parks.
- Four of eight House constitutional proposals advanced in committee, including HJR 201 to eliminate non‑school homestead taxes and HJR 205 to do so for seniors, with some measures seeking to preserve funding for police and schools.