Comments on: DeSantis Calls Special Session Hoping To End Homestead Property Taxes; Gaetz Will Support

By: Luigi

Luigi — Sun, 31 May 2026 00:13:09 +0000

It’s great to see most regional politicians making statements regarding that Schools budgets , services for the elderly, law enforcement will be underfunded, the politicians are just protecting their piggy bank and discretionary power .protecting their access to millions of dollars . Only a small percent comes from taxes collected from homestead properties . The rest comes from businesses, out of state owners , investors. Finally we have a governor in office who wants to do something about it . Yet in a Red state like ours unfortunately we have some hiding their blue ideologies. Give homeowners a tax brake and take the piggy bank away from some politicians.

By: Not You

Not You — Fri, 29 May 2026 16:08:32 +0000

@Ken,
Apartment owners pay property taxes and pass that cost on to their renters.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 29 May 2026 15:14:27 +0000

Per an internet search for Escambia County Fl 62% of residents own homes either outright or through mortgage and 50% claim homestead. How does the rest of of the
population contribute to schools and services ? And how is 50-62% carrying the lions share of the burden fair?

By: pencil

pencil — Fri, 29 May 2026 10:07:21 +0000

This is a money grab. Property taxes in Florida are a dedicated funding source that helps pay for schools, streetlights, roads, police & fire services, libraries and a variety of other things.

Desantis and his cronies are sitting on millions in real estate, investment properties, condos, hotels, multiple vacation homes along the beach and want to get out of paying their share. They do this by convincing the poorest guy that owns .0000000001 acre that he has an interest that aligns with their hundreds and millions in real estate.

Take away that and we start looking like Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama: dirt poor, last in education, a decline in emergency services pot holes in the streets and a boost in crime. Take a drive over there and look at that possible future.

Desantis has access to private schools for kids, a security team (has been discussing extending his protection after he leaves office) and is sitting on a treasure chest. Don’t be fooled!

By: Cb

Cb — Fri, 29 May 2026 09:08:09 +0000

Im all for paying fair share of property tax. Unless your house is paid off like mine. If you worked hard and paid off your house then you shouldnt pay property tax regardless of what you do with the house or whether you stay in it. The problem with the Republican method is that they’ll make it sound good then jack up everything else to compensate for it. Smh

By: Give me a break

Give me a break — Fri, 29 May 2026 02:17:11 +0000

@Bigblock

That flies in the face of capitalism. The value of your property increases or decreases due to the demand for that property. By your logic, if you did want to sell that old homestead, you could only get what you paid for it, regardless of the increase in demand.

I understand your argument, but you don’t get to have the cake and eat it when you want to.

If you own property that receives services, like roads, lights, schools, etc– you have an obligation through tax dollars to maintain those amenities. You never paid them off.

By: Give me a break

Give me a break — Fri, 29 May 2026 02:10:10 +0000

This reform should also be evaluated for the exemption from property taxes by religious institutions and churches. Megachurches that own large properties and engage in politics should be taxed just like a business.

By: Voices in Pensacola

Voices in Pensacola — Thu, 28 May 2026 22:55:39 +0000

Agree with you about insurance, Buford T. It is HANDS DOWN our number one expense.

What I fear is the state turns around and goes up on sales taxes. It won’t be noticed at the consumer staples level too much. But it will slam people on durable goods like appliances and vehicles, big ticket items that are must haves. It could also chase tourism off (bed /tourist taxes are already really high). Once the tourists go to other states and not Florida, more of the burden will be on the residents.

Even with what I spoke of below with exemption boundaries, I’m not sure I can back this. Instead, cap millage rates if taxes are out of control.

By: Voices in Pensacola

Voices in Pensacola — Thu, 28 May 2026 22:37:40 +0000

“Has anyone ever heard of a county or local government not spending every dollar collected? “ per Derek

Actually, yes. The funds can be rolled over to the next fiscal year and millage is kept the same (for inflation). But I have seen millage lowered slightly, too.

By: Voices in Pensacola

Voices in Pensacola — Thu, 28 May 2026 22:33:31 +0000

In agreement with you Jason.

Everyone should pay something.

My thought is exempt the first $25k, tax the next $25k, then a $225k and exemption.

If it’s just the first $250k, I cannot vote for that. Otherwise, the burden is saddled onto the middle class again and that is simply unfair.