Florida DID NOT, ‘end property taxes.’

The real story isn’t “property taxes are going away.” It’s “the tax base is being moved.”

When you move a tax base, human nature + money = 2nd order effects…

Video Coming This Week: Drawbacks + Winners/Losers.

*Not an alarmist and I do have faith in Florida. With that said, I study human behavior throughout history.

One drawback most miss: “property tax relief” can morph into “fee inflation” (or worse).

When counties have lose flexible/visible revenue like property tax, one common pattern is:
* More user fees
* More special assessments
* More “district” charges
* Less transparency (fewer people know what an MSBU/MSTU is than “millage rate”)

Still many questions:
-How might this change rent?
-Is a Rent Cap model in Florida’s future? (doubtful)
-Where and who will the necessary county expenses come from?
-How does this affect applying for and PROVING homestead, if at all?
-Will small business have to help carry the burden?
-Will this further the “lock-in” effect with existing Owners already holding a sub 5% interest rate? If so, how will this affect inventory and then pricing?

Quick reality check: House-passed HJR 203 (Engrossed 1) proposes:
* Exempts homestead from all non‑school ad valorem property taxes starting Jan 1, 2027 (if citizens approve)
* “Ad valorem” = value-based property tax portion (millage × taxable value)
* Does NOT touch school district levies (so not “property‑tax free”)
* Does NOT apply to “assessments for special benefits” (huge “quiet” clause for what might happen next)
* Special/non‑ad valorem assessments STAY (trash, stormwater, CDD, etc.)
* Adds restriction: local city/counties can’t reduce total funding for law enforcement, firefighters, other first responders below a base budget level (FY 2025–26 or 2026–27, whichever is higher)

-If passed by FL Sen AND Citizens: starts Jan 1, 2027. First bills generally payable Nov 1, 2027.
-Escrowed taxes (most): monthly change likely not until 2028.

We will also look at what city/counties can do on their own vs what must be approved by the people.