Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast was hit hard by hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton, leaving homeowners with extensive damage and costly repairs.
Now, a proposal could help those with older homes by encouraging upgrades to make their properties more resilient to future storms, potentially saving money for both homeowners and the government.
Florida Senate Banking and Insurance Chairman Blaise Ingoglia has suggested lawmakers consider offering a property tax break for homes built in the 1980s or earlier.
The idea involves freezing local property taxes for 15 to 20 years if homeowners agree to upgrade their homes to comply with modern building codes.
These upgrades could include measures like reinforcing roofs or elevating homes at risk of storm surges.
Ingoglia said the proposal would not only reduce insurance premiums for homeowners but also save local governments significant recovery costs after storms.
He pointed out that much of the damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton impacted older homes constructed at sea-level elevation, which lacked the storm-resistant features required by current building codes.
However, the proposal is not intended for newer homes, as they are already subject to stricter building requirements, including mandatory elevation in storm surge-prone areas.
Ingoglia acknowledged that his “out-of-the-box” idea does not yet have the support of Governor Ron DeSantis or Senate leadership, but he remains optimistic about the potential benefits of the plan.
If implemented, it could mark a significant step toward reducing the financial toll of hurricanes on Florida’s vulnerable coastal communities.
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