By Lawrence Mower
Miami Herald
(TNS)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis’ property tax plan for the November ballot would raise the homestead exemption to $250,000 and require the Legislature to enact a plan to eliminate property taxes entirely for the vast majority of Floridians who own the homes they live in, he announced Wednesday.
DeSantis said he was calling the Legislature back to Tallahassee on Monday to add an amendment to the ballot that would eventually raise the homestead exemption to $500,000, eliminating property taxes for 92% of those Floridians.
“I think a lot of people need relief,” DeSantis said. “I think a lot of people have been wondering, ‘Where can we get it?’ We’re showing a pathway to be able to get that done that I think is going to be transformational for people.”
The plan falls short of eliminating property taxes entirely, which DeSantis has been talking about for more than a year.
To help with the transition, DeSantis said he is proposing a state trust fund to provide grants to local governments.
The plan, which was not released in writing Wednesday morning, is far from a done deal. It would have to pass the Legislature by 60% and be approved by the same percentage of Florida voters in November.
To sell the idea, he said the state was launching a website where Floridians could see how much they’d save on their homes.
“I want to make sure people can go and vote for something, and then see something that’s going to be very, very meaningful in their lives,” he said.
Photo caption: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to the media on May 27, 2026. (YouTube)
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