We’ve arrived at a defining moment in Florida. Property taxes are spiraling out of control, and families across the Sunshine State are feeling it. Homeowners are watching their bills climb faster than their paychecks. Seniors on fixed incomes are being forced to make impossible choices. And middle-class families—who did everything right, who bought a home, paid their mortgage, and built their lives here—are realizing that “homeownership” now feels more like renting from the government.
That’s why property tax reform is back on the agenda—and rightfully so. The Legislature’s renewed focus on giving Floridians relief, including proposals like House Joint Resolution 67, is a huge step in the right direction. Lowering the Save Our Homes cap from 3% down to 1.5% or CPI (whichever is lower) would slow the rate at which property assessments can increase each year. For millions of Florida homeowners, that change would finally bring real, immediate relief.
And let’s be clear: we absolutely support that. It’s common-sense, it’s compassionate, and it’s long overdue.
But if we stop there—if we only lower the cap and call it a day—we’re just kicking the can down the road.
Because without spending accountability and transparency, any property tax relief we pass today will evaporate tomorrow. Local governments will keep spending more, assessments will keep creeping up, and within a few years, we’ll be right back in the same place—only this time, the can will boil over.
Aren’t we all tired of kicking the can?
The Real Problem Isn’t Just the Cap—It’s the Spending
Florida’s property tax structure doesn’t exist in a vacuum. When values skyrocket, local governments collect more revenue—even if they keep their millage rate the same. Over the last decade, local property tax collections have more than doubled, far outpacing both population growth and inflation.
That means the core issue isn’t just the rate of increase; it’s how much governments are spending once they get that windfall. Every time property values surge, so does local government spending. And every time the state steps in to offer temporary relief, local budgets expand again—creating a cycle of dependency that keeps taxpayers trapped.
Lowering the cap is critical relief, yes—but without spending accountability, it’s like patching a leaky roof while the rain is still pouring in.
What “Transparency” and “Accountability” Really Mean
When people hear “transparency” and “accountability,” their eyes sometimes glaze over. But here’s what those words really mean for Florida taxpayers:
Transparency means knowing where every dollar goes. It means every county, city, and special district publishing their budgets, showing exactly how much they spend on salaries, programs, and capital projects—down to the line item. It means being able to see, in real time, where your tax dollars are being used, and whether that spending aligns with the promises made during budget hearings.
Accountability means making government live within its means—just like every Florida family has to. It means tying any future spending increases to real-world metrics like inflation and population growth. And if local officials want to spend more than that? They should have to make their case directly to voters.
These two principles—transparency and accountability—are what turn good intentions into lasting reform. Without them, property tax relief becomes temporary political theater.
Commending the Legislature—But Asking for More
Florida lawmakers deserve real credit for listening to homeowners. The push behind HJR 67 shows courage and compassion. Lowering the Save Our Homes cap to 1.5% or CPI (whichever is lower) gives homeowners the breathing room they desperately need. It limits how fast assessed values can rise and stabilizes long-term costs.
But that’s only one half of the equation.
Because if we don’t control local spending, all we’ve done is slow down the speed of the runaway train—we haven’t stopped it. Property tax relief without spending restraint is like filling a bucket full of holes. You can pour in all the relief you want; it’s still going to leak away.
If we want reform that lasts, we have to give it teeth. That means pairing the cap reduction with strong spending accountability and transparency measures that keep government honest.
The Property Tax Reform & Spending Accountability Act
The best way to do that is through the Property Tax Reform & Spending Accountability Act—a proposal designed to make sure property tax reform actually sticks.
Here’s how it works:
-
Assessment Cap Reduction
Just like HJR 67, the Act lowers the Save Our Homes cap to 1.5% or CPI, whichever is lower. This gives immediate relief and stabilizes rising tax bills for homeowners across Florida. -
Spending Growth Cap
Local government budgets can only grow at a rate tied to inflation and population growth. If they want to spend more than that, they must justify it through a voter-approved referendum or a supermajority vote by the governing body. -
Transparency Portal
Every county and municipality must maintain an online “Spending Transparency Portal.” This digital dashboard shows exactly where every local tax dollar is going—broken down by department, category, and even salary. Citizens can see where the money’s being spent and hold leaders accountable. -
Taxpayer Trigger & Rollback Mechanism
If a local government exceeds its spending cap for two consecutive years without voter approval, the “Taxpayer Trigger” activates: the jurisdiction must roll back its millage rate and allocate any surplus revenue toward taxpayer rebates or debt reduction. -
Sunset Review for Special Districts
Every special taxing district—many of which quietly accumulate billions in revenue—must face a public vote every 10 years to renew its taxing authority. If voters reject renewal, that district’s taxing power expires.
This framework doesn’t just lower taxes—it rebalances power. It ensures that spending growth remains tied to reality, that voters remain in control, and that local officials are accountable to the people who fund their budgets.
Why This Matters
This isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about common sense and fairness.
When you buy a home, you budget carefully. You make sure you can afford your payments, your insurance, and your utilities. You plan for unexpected costs. Local governments should have to do the same.
But too often, they don’t. They spend first and justify later—relying on rising property values to cover the tab. That’s not sustainable, and it’s not fair to the people footing the bill.
Spending accountability and transparency ensure that government operates the way households do: with limits, discipline, and honesty.
And this isn’t just a moral argument—it’s an economic one.
Uncontrolled property tax growth discourages investment, drives up the cost of living, and hurts small businesses. It pushes retirees out of their homes. It erodes trust in government. If we want Florida to remain a magnet for growth, opportunity, and freedom, we need a tax system that rewards stability—not excess.
The Real Impact on Florida Families
Here’s what this looks like in real life:
- A family in Bay County sees their home’s assessed value jump 20% in one year. Even with a millage rate that technically “stays the same,” their tax bill climbs by hundreds of dollars. Without spending restraint, that increase becomes permanent.
- A retiree in Pasco County lives on a fixed income. As assessments rise, she has to cut groceries or skip medication just to keep up with her property tax bill. A lower cap helps her this year—but if local budgets balloon again, she’ll be right back in the same spot in two years.
- A small business owner in Leon County pays rising commercial property taxes that drive up rent, utilities, and the cost of doing business. Those costs get passed on to customers, increasing prices for everyone.
These aren’t isolated stories. They’re the everyday reality for millions of Floridians. That’s why the next phase of property tax reform can’t just be about rates—it has to be about responsibility.
A State Built on Responsibility Deserves Responsible Government
Florida is growing faster than ever. People are moving here for opportunity, freedom, and a better quality of life. But that promise only holds if the cost of living stays manageable—and that means keeping government growth in check.
Spending accountability doesn’t mean cutting essential services. It means ensuring that our tax dollars are used wisely, transparently, and with restraint. It means cities and counties prioritize core responsibilities—public safety, roads, and infrastructure—over bloated administrative spending or unnecessary projects.
Transparency doesn’t mean micromanagement. It means open books. It means Floridians can see where their hard-earned money goes without needing to dig through pages of budget jargon. When people can see the truth, trust in government grows.
If We Don’t Fix It Now, It’ll Be Worse Later
We’ve seen this movie before.
Lawmakers step in to offer property tax relief. Homeowners breathe a sigh of relief. Then local budgets expand again, assessments rise, and the “relief” disappears into the next cycle of frustration.
That’s the definition of kicking the can down the road.
We’re not just delaying the problem—we’re compounding it. Every year we fail to tie tax relief to spending reform, we add pressure to the system. And eventually, that pressure will explode—either through skyrocketing taxes, deep service cuts, or both.
Floridians are smarter than that. We know the difference between a quick fix and real reform.
Real reform means permanent limits on how much government can spend. It means public accountability every time those limits are exceeded. And it means an unwavering commitment to transparency so voters can see what’s being done with their money.
Grassroots Pressure Makes the Difference
The Legislature is moving in the right direction. But it’s up to everyday Floridians—the homeowners, renters, small business owners, and community leaders—to keep the pressure on.
We need to make it clear that while we support measures like HJR 67, we expect real teeth in the final package. That means pairing rate and cap reductions with ironclad transparency and spending accountability.
We should demand:
- A requirement that every local government post its full budget, updated quarterly, in a public online dashboard.
- Limits on annual spending growth tied to inflation and population.
- Voter approval for any tax or spending increase that exceeds those limits.
- Automatic rollback and rebate mechanisms when governments overcollect.
That’s how we make sure property tax relief doesn’t just sound good—it lasts.
A Message to Lawmakers
To our state legislators: thank you. Truly. You’ve recognized the pain Floridians are feeling and acted to provide real relief. Lowering the Save Our Homes cap is a courageous and compassionate step forward.
But courage means finishing the job.
Pair the rate reduction with transparency and spending accountability, and you’ll make history. You’ll deliver a reform that protects homeowners not just this year, but for generations. You’ll build trust in government, restore fiscal sanity, and prove that Florida leads not just in opportunity—but in responsibility.
If, however, reform stops at the cap, we’ll be right back here again in a few short years. Homeowners will once again face rising bills. Legislators will once again face calls for relief. And the can will be rolling further down the road, heavier than ever.
We can’t afford that. Not this time.
The Bottom Line
Floridians deserve relief—and lawmakers deserve credit for pursuing it. But to make it stick, we must reform both how taxes are collected and how they’re spent.
The Property Tax Reform & Spending Accountability Act is the path forward. It pairs lower assessment caps with transparent budgets, strict spending caps, and voter oversight. It protects homeowners, rewards fiscal discipline, and ensures every dollar government spends is a dollar justified.
If we want real, lasting reform—if we truly want to protect the Florida Dream of homeownership and opportunity—then we can’t just patch the problem. We must fix it at the source.
Because the truth is simple: without spending accountability and transparency, any property tax reform is just another kick of the same old can.
And Florida’s taxpayers are done kicking.
It’s time to pick up the can, pour out the waste, and start fresh—with a system that respects the people, the property, and the promise of the Sunshine State.
Add comment
Comments