Andrade Breaks Down DeSantis Property Tax Elimination Proposal — And Raises Serious Concerns

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- State Representative Alex Andrade is raising significant concerns about Governor DeSantis's property tax elimination proposal — warning that the plan could devastate school district budgets in Northwest Florida and has been rushed through with virtually no time for meaningful review.

Andrade says he received the written language of the proposal for the first time yesterday afternoon. Legislators are expected to vote on it during a special session running June 1st through 3rd — just days after this week's budget vote.

What the Proposal Does

Under the plan the homestead exemption would jump from the current 50,000 dollars to 150,000 in January 2027 — then to 250,000 in 2028 — before eventually being fully eliminated. Critically the proposal includes the school board's share of ad valorem taxes for the first time — something previous proposals had excluded. Andrade's rough math puts the hit to Escambia County schools at more than 70 million dollars in year one and nearly 40 million dollars for Santa Rosa County schools. New Florida residents would have to live in the state for five years before receiving the full benefit.

Andrade's Concerns

Andrade says there is no meaningful funding offset in the proposal for local governments or school districts — and notes the governor vetoed a million-dollar study of the proposal's financial impacts last year. He says the proposal also lacks law enforcement budget protections. Even if the legislature passes it the measure would still go to voters as a constitutional amendment requiring 60 percent approval in November. Andrade says he has not yet decided how he will vote.