Today, the Florida House and Senate passed Governor DeSantis’ Property Tax Proposal. Here is Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani’s statement in response:
“There is no doubt in my mind that Floridians need relief. But Governor DeSantis’s proposal is not the answer. In reality, it would do more harm than good.
The people who would save the most under this plan are those with the highest-value properties, while renters and many working families would see a loss of basic services that they rely on and cannot afford on their own.
Eliminating a major source of local revenue would have devastating consequences for the services that Floridians rely on every day. Public safety, parks, libraries, road maintenance, emergency response, and other essential community services would face deep cuts or become entirely unsustainable.
Local governments would be forced into impossible decisions: raise fees, increase other taxes, reduce services, or turn to Tallahassee and beg for financial support. Smaller cities could disappear altogether, and many rural counties would likely be forced to consolidate or seek state assistance simply to continue operating.
Instead of defunding local governments and creating uncertainty for communities across the state, we should pursue targeted relief that actually addresses affordability without jeopardizing the services and infrastructure that help our communities thrive.”
You can also watch her House Floor Debate here: