Pensacola Police Prepared to Maintain Service Despite Property Tax Proposal

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- Pensacola Police say they'll maintain service levels regardless of what happens with a proposed property tax elimination bill working through the Florida Legislature.

House Joint Resolution 203 would eliminate property taxes on homesteads, which could cost the City of Pensacola an estimated $9 million. The bill's sponsor, Representative Monique Miller, suggested cities could outsource police services to county sheriffs to cut costs.

PPD Public Information Officer Mike Wood says those discussions aren't new.

"We've heard this before and talked about it over the years of a metropolitan government and one law enforcement agency," Wood said. "And that subject matter kind of comes and goes."

Wood says the department will do whatever is necessary to maintain quality service.

"We've seen the numbers low. We've had detectives and administrative personnel that normally aren't on the street, put that uniform back on and get on the street and answer those calls," Wood said. "So we're going to do whatever we have to do when we have to do it to make sure our citizens don't see any kind of lapse in our response time or the quality of the services that we provide."

The bill would need to pass both chambers and be approved by voters in a referendum to take effect.