Governor previews property-tax ballot measure, cites revenue growth and insurance reforms
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Summary
At the St. Augustine event, the governor previewed a property-tax ballot initiative aimed at primary-homeowners, cited growth in property-tax revenue (from $32B to $60B per his figures), and highlighted recent insurance-rate reductions he says resulted from state reforms.
During the St. Augustine ceremony the governor used an audience question to preview a planned property-tax ballot initiative and to summarize state economic measures he argued would help households.
Asked whether the House or Senate would move on property-tax legislation, the governor said the state House had passed a version and that he expects a ballot measure enabling property-tax relief for primary residences. He framed the proposal as an option that would let voters ‘‘go to the polls and be able to vote’’ on relief he called historic.
The governor cited state revenue figures to support his case, saying property-tax revenue to local governments rose from "$32,000,000,000" in 2019 to "$60,000,000,000" seven years later and arguing that homeowners feel overtaxed as a result. He said the administration plans analysis and modeling to design a ballot initiative that would backfill locally lost revenue where needed, including a recurring budget provision to replace revenue for 32 rural counties.
On insurance, the governor credited reforms enacted in prior years and said filings with the Office of Insurance Regulation show rate reductions: he said citizens property insurance has an average statewide reduction of about 8 percent and cited reductions near 15 percent in Miami-Dade and Broward. He urged residents to shop for lower premiums when insurers file new rates.
The governor also commented on housing affordability, saying COVID-era prices had pushed some buyers to pause and that either incomes must rise or prices will fall. He cautioned against policy responses that, in his view, would ‘‘ultimately raise the cost’’ of housing.
He closed by noting broader education initiatives — including a statewide civics and debate program and a $3,000 teacher bonus tied to a civics course — and reaffirmed support for HBCUs, saying state programs have provided targeted support for institutions such as FAMU and Bethune-Cookman.
All figures and program descriptions above are drawn from speakers’ remarks at the event and were presented as assertions by the governor and other officials; the transcript records speakers’ statements but does not provide supporting documents for the revenue and insurance figures cited.