Breakthrough Tax Relief or Risky Gamble? Tricia Elliott March 5, 2026 2:59 pm Emerald Coast, Florida, Niceville, Okaloosa County, Politics and Elections In Brief: A proposed Florida constitutional amendment would eliminate most non-school property taxes on homesteaded homes. The change could reduce local government revenue by $13 billion annually once fully implemented. Local officials warn that the lost funding could lead to cuts in services such as libraries, parks, and community programs. Florida voters could soon be asked to decide on a constitutional amendment that would eliminate most property taxes on homestead properties while prohibiting local governments from cutting first responder budgets below current funding levels to recoup the lost revenue. This amendment, called CS/CS/HJR 203 (2026), passed the House overwhelmingly in February. Now, its advocates must get it through the Senate. Before the session, Governor Ron DeSantis said he wanted the legislature to put a bill to eliminate property taxes on the ballot. But insiders with knowledge of the workings of the state capitol say this would not take place until at least June, which would require the governor to call a special session. Those same sources say the governor’s office is already working on a special session for April concerning another issue. State Rep. Nathan Boyles, a former Okaloosa County commissioner, said the proposal has to be understood as part of a longer, messy lawmaking process. “We have a bicameral legislature and an executive, and at the end of the day, there’s a pretty complex process, the proverbial...
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