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Tag: Florida property taxes

  • Orange County mayor says he stands by county spending amid criticism from Florida DOGE – Orlando Weekly

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    Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, a Democrat reportedly considering a run for Florida governor next year, pushed back against allegations of wasteful spending made by Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency task force Wednesday as tensions over government finances edge closer to the boiling point. 

    “Orange County takes its responsibility to taxpayers seriously, and we stand by the investments we make in our community,” Demings, a former Orlando police chief and Orange County sheriff, told Orlando Weekly in a statement. State DOGE auditors last month claimed (without showing receipts) that they’d identified nearly $200 million in the county budget they consider “excessive, wasteful spending.”

    Tensions further escalated at a Jacksonville news conference Wednesday, where Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Gov. Ron DeSantis called out multiple local governments throughout Florida — including but not limited to Alachua County, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Orange County, St. Petersburg and Orlando — that the state’s DOGE task force has been investigating for more evidence of “wasteful” spending. 

    The city of Jacksonville, for instance, was blasted by Ingoglia for covering the cost of a $75,000 hologram projection of Mayor Donna Deegan at Jacksonville International Airport, created to greet travelers. The city has a multibillion-dollar budget, all in all, and has similarly been accused by DOGE auditors of $199 million in wasteful spending.

    “I’m tired of hearing about the hologram,” Jacksonville city councilman Matt Carlucci told NewsJax in a statement. “Frankly, I think it’s a nice idea where our mayor can welcome people to the great City of Jacksonville. When they come up with real solutions, then come see us.”

    Florida DOGE, modeled after the federal initiative kickstarted under the Trump administration by tech billionaire Elon Musk, was first created in February through an executive order. The state DOGE effort, currently scheduled to disband in March 2026, has worked in lockstep with Ingoglia, who has made the effort a key part of his campaign to retain his CFO position next year. 

    Ingoglia has already filed a request for more than $600,000 next fiscal year to establish a “Florida Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Office” (FAFO).

    A former state senator from the Republican-leaning Hernando County, Ingoglia has already filed a request with the state for more than $600,000 next fiscal year to permanently establish a new “Florida Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Office” (FAFO) to carry out DOGE’s work.

    “Floridians across the state have made it clear that they will no longer tolerate waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars,” Ingoglia said in a statement Wednesday, claiming he’s exposed “nearly $1 billion in wasted taxpayer dollars across just FIVE local governments.”

    Alleged examples of “wasteful spending” in Orange County, for instance, include $223,000 for LGBT youth services that “promote gender ideology to youth populations,” according to a news release from the governor’s office. Orange County, which currently has a $8.2 billion budget, also allegedly paid $240,000 to “a left-wing urban planning firm that carries out its activities from a ‘race, social, and healthy equity perspective.’”

    The news release from the governor’s office, outlining these examples of “wasteful spending,” do not name the organizations referenced, nor does it explain how or what the DeSantis administration defines as the promotion of “gender ideology” — a term commonly thrown around by right-wing activists to disparage the very concept of gender identity and LGBTQ rights.

    A spokesperson for Orange County told Orlando Weekly they are working with their Community and Family Services Division to get more information about the “spending on LGBT youth services” referenced, since the governor’s news release didn’t specify. 

    “Our budget priorities are guided by the needs of residents and the recommendations of our citizen-led task forces. Supporting youth services and addressing issues of equity are about strengthening families and ensuring all residents have the opportunity to thrive,” Demings defended in his statement, without referencing specific examples of their spending.

    The Orlando city government was also called out by Florida DOGE on Wednesday, specifically for allegedly spending $460,000 since 2020 “to count trees as part of the city’s ‘tree inventory’” and $150,000 over three years “to help illegals evade deportation.” (That’s right … “illegals.”) Like Orange County’s case, the allegation did not specify any particular organizations, nor did officials provide receipts for this alleged “wasteful spending.” 

    “Local governments are crying poor but continue to spend wastefully on things like counting trees,” Ingoglia quipped. “The taxpayers are tired of it, which is why property tax relief is their top concern.”

    A city of Orlando spokesperson told Orlando Weekly that the city’s tree inventory program is intended to “properly evaluate, maintain and treat trees for damage and disease.” It’s not funded by property taxes, but rather a combination of state grants, tree removal permits and mitigation fees paid by developers when new construction occurs.

    Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a statement that he was “proud” of the city’s “fiscal prudence.” The city’s millage rate — a tax rate used to calculate property taxes — hasn’t changed for more than a decade, he added, pointing out that the city invested $406 million into fire and police services last year, compared to the $360 million generated in property tax revenue. “We are committed to listening to our residents and making investments that are responsive to their needs and priorities,” Dyer said.

    One of the primary discussion points throughout these DOGE talks and press conferences in recent weeks is property tax rates that have increased in tandem with property values since COVID, and a lot of pointing of fingers between local and state government leaders on who exactly has the authority to address the issue.

    Gov. DeSantis, who is term-limited from running for re-election next year, has pitched the idea of abolishing property taxes in Florida — a novel proposal that would need to first be approved by Florida voters through a constitutional amendment. 

    Property taxes, collected by local governments, are used to fund public services such as public education or schools, police and fire departments, as well as parks and roadways. The Florida Policy Institute, a progressive-leaning research and policy organization, notes that eliminating property taxes could be costly for local communities, significantly reducing funds available for vital public services.

    The state of Florida, for its part, agreed to pay $750,000 last fall in a legal settlement over Florida’s Stop WOKE Act, a 2022 law championed (and named) by DeSantis that sought in part to limit workplace training and instruction on diversity, equity and inclusiveness. The state has also potentially wasted more than $200 million on an immigrant detention camp in the Florida Everglades — dubbed Alligator Alcatraz — that is facing an uncertain future due to legal challenges that seek to shut it down.

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    Ingoglia said the county has OK’d more than $190M in ‘excessive and wasteful spending’

    ‘I think you need to be prepared for what is coming,’ warned Orlando state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith

    He’s issuing subpoenas to all county employees — the first time his office is investigating further after an audit



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    McKenna Schueler
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  • Majority of Floridians want property tax reform, survey finds – Orlando Weekly

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    Credit: via Shutterstock

    Although the specifics of such a proposal are still unknown, a majority of Floridians say that, if given the chance, they would vote for some form of property tax reform. That’s according to a public opinion survey commissioned by the James Madison Institute (JMI) released on Monday.

    If a constitutional amendment to significantly reduce or eliminate property taxes were on the ballot, 65% would support that. Only 15% oppose it, with 20% unsure.

    Constitutional amendments in Florida must win 60% support to go into effect.

    Gov. Ron DeSantis has been campaigning for months on the idea that Floridians want and need property tax relief, and has floated the idea that Florida could become the first state in the nation to completely eliminate them.

    But property taxes pay for crucial local services like police, fire departments, and schools. A study by the Florida Policy Institute concluded that eliminating property taxes for homesteaded properties would cost $18.5 billion.

    As a way to preempt those arguments by local government officials, Florida’s recently appointed chief financial officer, Blaise Ingoglia, has been making appearances around the state calling out local governments for alleged “wasteful spending” (without specifying what reaches that definition).

    Florida Speaker of the House Daniel Perez formed a select committee to study the issue earlier this year, and that group met twice last week in Tallahassee to determine how such a proposal could be written. It’s expected that the Florida Legislature will approve a resolution for a constitutional amendment sometime during the 2026 legislative session, which begins in January, with the measure to appear on the November 2026 ballot.

    On the philosophy of property taxes, 39% of those surveyed said they are a “valid” revenue source but should be limited. Another 33% said property taxes should be eliminated outright. Only 20% said they were critical for funding local government services and should be preserved. Another 8% weren’t sure.

    Sixty-six percent of Floridians worry they may not be able to afford to continue living in their homes or communities due to rising property taxes or other housing costs.

    There were plenty of other nuggets in the JMI survey, including that 62% of Florida voters oppose a DeSantis administration proposal to eliminate vaccine requirements.

    Jolly competitive in one-on-one matchups with top Republicans

    Nearly one in three registered voters (30%) describe themselves as “politically homeless,” feeling unrepresented by either the Democratic or Republican parties.

    Regarding the 2026 gubernatorial race, in a hypothetical matchup between Republican Byron Donalds, Democrat David Jolly, and independent candidate state Sen. Jason Pizzo, Donalds leads Jolly, 36%-32%, with Pizzo at 4%.

    In a three-way race with former House Speaker Paul Renner as the GOP candidate, Renner leads Jolly, 34%-33%, with Pizzo at 5%.

    In a GOP race between Donalds and Renner, Donalds leads, 29%-9%.

    But when Republican voters were asked for whom they would vote among “announced and potential candidates,” it’s First Lady Casey DeSantis who gets the most support. She leads Donalds 26%-23%, with Renner at 7%, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins at 2%, and Agriculture Commission Wilton Simpson at 2%.

    The survey’s questions did not refer to the fact that Donalds has been endorsed by Donald Trump for president.

    The survey of 1,200 registered voters in Florida was conducted by Targoz Market Research for the James Madison Institute between Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, with a margin for error +/- 2.77%.

    Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Contact Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.

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    Ladapo’s predecessor — Dr. Scott Rivkees — says the matter has ‘nothing’ to do with parental rights

    The federal government has yet to cover the at-minimum $245 million price tag for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

    The homemade tandem bike creativity was strong



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    Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
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  • Florida lawmakers target ‘most hated tax’ in property tax committee meeting – Orlando Weekly

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    The 37-member property tax committee is co-chaired by Republican Reps. Vicki Lopez and Toby Overdorf. Credit: via Florida House of Representatives

    A Florida House committee met Monday to continue a search the best way to slash property taxes while educating lawmakers on how these levies both function and support key state institutions.

    The 37-member property tax committee, co-chaired by Republican Reps. Vicki Lopez and Toby Overdorf, spent four hours listening to lengthy presentations by top financial leaders on property taxes’ effect on public schools, homesteads, and fiscally constrained counties. It was their third meeting since the committee’s creation during the 2025 session.

    “We’re educating, obviously right now, committee members, but hopefully the public is listening to what that would mean in terms of production of any kind of revenue in their businesses,” Lopez, from Miami, told reporters following the meeting. She noted how “complex” it is to determine how to cut property taxes while still keeping public institutions afloat.

    Public schools are one state establishment heavily reliant on property taxes paid by homeowners to local governments. According to Jim Zingale, executive director of the Florida Department of Revenue, property taxes make up roughly 47% of the funding that supports public schools. The state foots the other 53%.

    Lopez called this “very telling,” while Overdorf, representing Palm City, promised the Legislature would be “crafting” multiple avenues to slashing what some have dubbed the “most hated tax.” But it remains to be seen what that legislation would look like.

    Monday’s meeting was largely the informative portion of the property tax committee’s two-day meeting schedule this week. On Tuesday, a more contentious slate includes representatives of local governments explaining how they collect property taxes, and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office, which will present information on his new “DOGE” task force that’s largely blamed local governments for wasteful spending fueled by high property taxes.

    Why haven’t property taxes already been cut?

    The crux of the dilemma is that property taxes provide a massive source of revenue for large counties like Miami-Dade and funds schools, firefighters, and police stations. Cutting them without providing an additional source of revenue, like raising the sales tax, would result in as much as a $50 billion loss to Florida counties, according to the Florida Policy Institute.

    In 2008, then-Speaker of the House Marco Rubio proposed “the swap,” switching sales tax hikes for the property tax. It failed.

    Property taxes statewide have risen by more than 45% since 2019, sparking public demands for financial relief. Although DeSantis has been chief among politicos pressuring for the tax to be either decimated or fully eliminated, he has yet to produce a plan beyond suggesting a $1,000 rebate for homesteaders.

    DeSantis has eyed local governments as the largest cause for skyrocketed rates, noting that property taxes are collected by municipalities, cities, and counties — not the state. Editing the property tax rate would require an amendment to the Florida Constitution.

    Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, a Belleview Republican, told reporters last week that he wants to impose new transaction fees and a slightly raised school sales tax to compensate for lost property tax revenue. His is the first comprehensive plan to be suggested ahead of the 2026 legislative session. However, convincing other conservatives to agree to raising taxes may prove a difficult sell.

    Other speakers on Monday included Amy Baker, coordinator for the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, and Lizette Kelly, who works in research and analytics in property tax oversight. They provided extensive information into the demographics of homesteaders (who tend to be older) and definitions of property tax terms including millage rates.

    Millage rates are tax rates that local governments use to calculate property tax. It is the dollar amount assessed for each $1,000 of taxable value. This means that a homestead with $300,000 of taxable value at a millage rate of 3 mills for the city would be assessed at $900 for city taxes, Baker explained.

    Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Contact Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.

    Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.

    Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky | Or sign up for our RSS Feed

    The portal allows people to submit screenshots, videos, or other evidence of threatened violence to Uthmeier’s office

    The Florida House’s property tax committee had its third meeting to explore how to slash property taxes

    Two deputies are seen following the animal from the front porch to the backyard, which the gator got to by ramming open a gate



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    Livia Caputo, Florida Phoenix
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  • Noting ‘political risk,’ Florida Republican reveals plan to cut property taxes – Orlando Weekly

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    Credit: via Florida House of Representatives

    After months of demands from the Florida governor’s office to slice property taxes, a Belleview Republican announced Tuesday his three-part plan to phase them out.

    Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, from Marion County, serving his second term, revealed his “Freedom 1,2,3” proposal to reporters during a Zoom press conference. The move came months after Gov. Ron DeSantis first pressured state lawmakers to eliminate the tax.

    The demand set the stage for a tax-cut feud between DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez during the 2025 legislative session; Perez wanted to focus instead on slashing the state sales tax.

    “If we do this, no one’s gonna be able to touch us. And we will be the first state in the country to take a dramatic step toward eliminating the most hated tax in America,” Chamberlin, 51, said Tuesday, noting that property taxes statewide have risen by more than 45% since 2019.

    Chamberlin’s first point involves legislation to roll property tax rates back to where they were in 2022. He acknowledged that much of his proposal could be subject to change pending further debate but, for now, he wants to eliminate roughly $34 billion of the $43 billion levied through county school and non-school property taxes.

    This would mirror 2007’s property tax rollback under then-Speaker Marco Rubio, which forced rates down to reflect the 2006-2007 fiscal year’s levels before the voters approved a constitutional amendment expanding homestead exemptions and capping assessment increases on non-homesteaded properties. It came in direct response to the then-looming 2008 housing crisis, which saw a major market downturn ahead of a crashing stock market.

    ‘Political risk’

    Once the new rollback removes a slew of property tax revenue, Chamberlin acknowledged, something will have to be done to replace the lost money — traditionally used to fund firefighters, public schools, and other crucial services statewide. This is where “2 and 3” of “Freedom 1,2,3” come in, said Chamberlin, a former consultant and entrepreneur.

    He’s proposing a 5% transaction fee on real estate sales, which he says could generate roughly $12 billion a year; a 5% transaction fee on rideshares, hotels, and amusement parks as a “travelers’ fee” to create $3.8 billion in lost revenue; and a 3-cent sales tax going specifically to schools to spawn at least $20 billion to replace the “required local effort” of school property taxes. That money would be collected against purchases in a county and redistributed depending on how many students are in each school.

    Chamberlin said he knows this won’t be received well by everyone. Republicans have traditionally opposed raising taxes and, although DeSantis has been chief among Floridian politicos calling for a solution to property tax rates, he also vowed not to sign any tax increases — even if it’s to supplement lost income. DeSantis instead offered a more vague interim proposal involving a $1,000 rebate to homeowners.

    “There is a political risk for me or anyone else who rolls out an actual plan, because immediately, there’s going to be those who organize opposition,” Chamberlin said, noting that although many people may try to “poke holes” in his plan, he welcomes the discussion. “It’s easy to talk about doing something about property taxes without ever getting specific about doing anything about it. But I’m convinced that we must have a starting point.”

    The loud debate yet lack of action surrounding property taxes dominated the 2025 session. DeSantis and Perez, a Miami Republican, battled over which tax should be cut. Ultimately, the Legislature approved a $1.3 billion tax cut package and Perez created a committee to research the best way to lower costs for homeowners while ensuring state-funded facilities could still operate.

    Chamberlin, who’s a member of the House’s 37-member property tax committee, insisted that his plan is not affiliated with DeSantis, the property tax committee, or anyone besides himself.

    Still, he mentioned that he’d had recent conversations with the governor, former House Speaker — and GOP gubernatorial candidate — Paul Renner, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, and state Sen. Stan McClain — the former House Ways and Means chairman — on cutting property taxes.

    The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.



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    Livia Caputo, Florida Phoenix
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