[ByebyeMichigan]

So if Florida eliminates property tax for people that own their homes OUTRIGHT , this state will have a huge influx of people moving here….simply tack on a significant sales tax on their new home purchase….. they won’t like the initial added cost but most will pay it with the realization that going forward they won’t have to pay anymore taxes on that home. That idea alone would mostly take the place of OUR property taxes that are currently being collected yearly ……

[poordirtfarmer]

I agree with enforcing speed limits on all Villages vehicles. That is what most Villagers would expect our employed police force to do. I’m sure there is reluctance by our police force to ticket people in a retirement community. Our elected commissioners should make it clear to our force that the MAJORITY of Villagers believe the Villages will be safer and our property more valuable if speed limits are enforced.

[ROCKETMAN]

Originally Posted by Normal

We should all be aware that the governor and state house members want to eliminate property taxes for all of us. Texas just came one step closer to being the first.

The Texas House pushed forward a proposal Monday aimed at containing property tax bills by putting tighter restrictions on cities and counties.

The legislation would further limit how much more in property tax revenue cities and counties can collect each year without voter approval. Under state law, that limit sits at 3.5%. The bill would take that limit down to 1%.
Texas House OKs bill limiting city, county property taxes | The Texas Tribune

Florida isn’t exactly sitting by, the governor’s idea to totally eliminate resident taxes has overwhelming support.
Ron DeSantis Updates Florida on 2026 Plan for Property Tax Vote - Newsweek

Which state will get it done first? Florida will rely on businesses and tourism taxes. Texas has taken the more streamlined approach. It should be interesting to see who comes first.

Property taxes take in 56 billion dollars in the state. How do you make that up.

[dougjb]

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

If the property tax is eliminated, the government will have to make up that shortfall somewhere else. Floridians have to pay...one way or the other!

So, let's not celebrate the elimination of one tax if the state then has to play whack-a-mole and hit us on something else.

[Rsb23]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

You sure about that? You didn't pay tax on your car? You don't pay tax on your meals when you dine out? You didn't pay tax on your computer or phone? You pay no tax on every gallon of gas you buy for your car, or every unit of electricity you use on your EV? Yes, yes you do pay tax on all of that. It's not property tax, but it's tax. You also pay registration fees every year on your car based on weight - it's not called a tax, but that's what it is.

Most things you buy - are taxed.

I agree with you. The problem is that you are trying to convince the Me People that taxes can both benefit them directly and indirectly.

There are two types of people the Me People that believe that if the services don’t Directly benefit them they should not have to pay. If they don’t have a child in school why should they have to pay school taxes (etc. to all other taxes as well). Then there are the We People. They see the benefits of education has to our society. The We People care about others. The Me People couldn’t care less if it doesn’t help them directly.

It’s sad to say, but we seem to be in period of time when the Me People have taken control and society will suffer for it. Save your breath you are trying to convince people that only care about themselves. That will not change.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by kkingston57

Redundancy in local governments has been there and has been a problem for years. Most people do like "local" control, Getting rid of property taxes will create a huge can of worms. Why fix something when it is not broken? As an aside those hated snowbirds will love it. Only pay sales tax for several months and no property taxes. 99% of them will buy their car(heavy taxed item) elsewhere

If you aren’t a resident, you pay property taxes. The exemption is only for single property owners who are residents of the state.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Yes... Taxed ONCE! Not yearly, in perpetuity...

So here's how taxes work, since it isn't clear to you:

Property taxes are what you pay, to cover the expense of owning property in the town you're in. That means it covers the cost of paving the road that leads to your driveway. It covers the cost of the cop who shows up to arrest them thar illeguls who you mistakenly contracted to replace your roof. It covers the cost of the replacement of curbs. It covers the cost of the people who determine the laws and regulations, implement them, and oversee the general running of the community you live in. It covers the cost of the secretary who types up all this stuff and takes your phone call when you complain about a pothole at the corner of your road and the intersection. It covers the cost of the street lights and stop signs and road signs, the schools, the sidewalks on public property. It covers the cost of asphalt and bituminous concrete when needed to patch those sidewalks and roads. It covers the cost of the city engineer who has to sign off on all new construction or expansions of existing property. It covers the cost of the inland-wetland commission, who makes sure that someone isn't building a property in such a way that it'll dam the free flow of water and cause half the neighborhood to float away during the next big rainstorm.

That's why you pay property tax every year, and not just a sales tax once when you buy the house. These things happen every year. And so you pay every year.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

So here's how taxes work, since it isn't clear to you:

Property taxes are what you pay, to cover the expense of owning property in the town you're in. That means it covers the cost of paving the road that leads to your driveway. It covers the cost of the cop who shows up to arrest them thar illeguls who you mistakenly contracted to replace your roof. It covers the cost of the replacement of curbs. It covers the cost of the people who determine the laws and regulations, implement them, and oversee the general running of the community you live in. It covers the cost of the secretary who types up all this stuff and takes your phone call when you complain about a pothole at the corner of your road and the intersection. It covers the cost of the street lights and stop signs and road signs, the schools, the sidewalks on public property. It covers the cost of asphalt and bituminous concrete when needed to patch those sidewalks and roads. It covers the cost of the city engineer who has to sign off on all new construction or expansions of existing property. It covers the cost of the inland-wetland commission, who makes sure that someone isn't building a property in such a way that it'll dam the free flow of water and cause half the neighborhood to float away during the next big rainstorm.

That's why you pay property tax every year, and not just a sales tax once when you buy the house. These things happen every year. And so you pay every year.

Or, have the state take care of it all.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Normal

If you aren’t a resident, you pay property taxes. The exemption is only for single property owners who are residents of the state.

There is no proposal for any exemption yet, just promises. It's far too early to be counting the chickens, much less naming them.

[BlueStarAirlines]

For me, the real issue isn't the paying of property taxes, its the normalization of the endless supply of tax dollars to fund pet projects.

Wildwood is the poster child for this with their parking garage, Millennium Park, and their forthcoming "The Railyard" and "Linnear Park". The "build it and they will come" is a foolish waste of tax dollars. Wildwood has real needs like the new water treatment plant but seems to be easily distracted by grandiose visions as a place that shoppers will flock to and spend hours enjoying Wildwood's natural setting.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by BlueStarAirlines

For me, the real issue isn't the paying of property taxes, its the normalization of the endless supply of tax dollars to fund pet projects.

Wildwood is the poster child for this with their parking garage, Millennium Park, and their forthcoming "The Railyard" and "Linnear Park". The "build it and they will come" is a foolish waste of tax dollars. Wildwood has real needs like the new water treatment plant but seems to be easily distracted by grandiose visions as a place that shoppers will flock to and spend hours enjoying Wildwood's natural setting.

Yes, they are the poster child for waste!

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by BlueStarAirlines

For me, the real issue isn't the paying of property taxes, its the normalization of the endless supply of tax dollars to fund pet projects.

Wildwood is the poster child for this with their parking garage, Millennium Park, and their forthcoming "The Railyard" and "Linnear Park". The "build it and they will come" is a foolish waste of tax dollars. Wildwood has real needs like the new water treatment plant but seems to be easily distracted by grandiose visions as a place that shoppers will flock to and spend hours enjoying Wildwood's natural setting.

With all the development happening in Wildwood they should already have the customers, they just need to get on the ball and create the downtown destination. The parking garage made sense as the initial phase of the buildout but it's been open for nearly a year now with little or no progress on the rest of the plan.

[kingofbeer]

Originally Posted by Normal

We should all be aware that the governor and state house members want to eliminate property taxes for all of us. Texas just came one step closer to being the first.

The Texas House pushed forward a proposal Monday aimed at containing property tax bills by putting tighter restrictions on cities and counties.

The legislation would further limit how much more in property tax revenue cities and counties can collect each year without voter approval. Under state law, that limit sits at 3.5%. The bill would take that limit down to 1%.
Texas House OKs bill limiting city, county property taxes | The Texas Tribune

Florida isn’t exactly sitting by, the governor’s idea to totally eliminate resident taxes has overwhelming support.
Ron DeSantis Updates Florida on 2026 Plan for Property Tax Vote - Newsweek

Which state will get it done first? Florida will rely on businesses and tourism taxes. Texas has taken the more streamlined approach. It should be interesting to see who comes first.

I don't think this will ever happen, if it does I will move out of Florida before it happens. DeSantis and Republicans pander to their conservative base. Some state legislator from Miami wants to get rid of hoa's too. Florida state government is the one who needs to be audited. They built a detention camp in the Everglades that is being closed down that is costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. They are parking a state trooper at the Dunkin Donuts next to the Pulse Nightclub to hassle people putting chalk on a sidewalk.

[LianneMigiano]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

You sure about that? You didn't pay tax on your car? You don't pay tax on your meals when you dine out? You didn't pay tax on your computer or phone? You pay no tax on every gallon of gas you buy for your car, or every unit of electricity you use on your EV? Yes, yes you do pay tax on all of that. It's not property tax, but it's tax. You also pay registration fees every year on your car based on weight - it's not called a tax, but that's what it is.

Most things you buy - are taxed.

15 years ago the taxes on our property in CT were $6,000 a year. God forbid what they must be now! The taxes for our home in Sumter County for the coming year here are $1,700. When we moved here our taxes here were around $1,500 yearly. The taxes have gone up about $200 in 15 years! They used to go up that much in ONE year in our former state. Plus they have an income tax. We have saved the difference of at least that much money every year - for 15 years. I would NEVER begrudge the county for these amounts!!!!!

[kingofbeer]

Originally Posted by USOTR

Property tax should be dropped for senior citizens who have lived in Florida and filed homestead exception for at least 10 year prior to be coming a senior citizen.

Nope. What about the "disabled" and "disabled vets" who pay zero taxes? Are all of these taxpayers really disabled?