Parents fear impact on schools as DeSantis pushes major property tax cuts

LEE COUNTY, Fla. — One day after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a sweeping property tax relief proposal for Florida homeowners, some Lee County parents and school leaders are questioning what the plan could mean for public schools already facing major budget cuts.

DeSantis said Florida homeowners need relief after years of rising home values and climbing property tax bills. He is pushing lawmakers to dramatically expand Florida’s homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000 during a special session next week.

But in Lee County — where school leaders say roughly 60% of the district’s budget comes from property taxes — some parents worry the plan could cost students.

School Board member Debbie Jordan told WINK News the district is already struggling after a year of major cuts.

Earlier this month, Lee County Schools announced a $46.7 million deficit and said it would not renew contracts for 457 employees.

Jordan said she fears things could get even worse if districts lose more property tax revenue.

“If we are losing this funding, where — I can’t even imagine what that even looks like,” Jordan said.

Lee County Schools Communications Director Rob Spicker told WINK News the district received more than $832 million in property tax funding this year alone.

For parents like Zac Maclean, the debate is more complicated.

His son, Logan, is a sophomore at Riverdale High School — a time when grades, coursework, and college preparation begin carrying more weight.

But Maclean said he is already seeing the effects of staffing shortages inside the classroom.

“A teacher left in the middle of the year, and then they didn't actually have a replacement teacher for like the next whole semester, which was just self-guided study,” Maclean said. “The teachers are going to other places to find better opportunities.”

Another parent, Brandy Gluski, said several of her children’s teachers were among those lost during the district’s cuts.

“My son at Cypress Lake High School has lost a science teacher, a history teacher, and they have a really robust arts program at Cypress, and they lost an alumni,” Gluski said.

While both parents said they like the idea of property tax relief as homeowners, they also worry about what could happen if schools lose funding without a clear replacement plan.

“I don't think you can just strip all that money away and not have somewhere else to pick up those funds,” Maclean said.

DeSantis has said he wants to protect core services like schools and law enforcement and suggested a statewide fund could help replace lost property tax revenue.

That money would likely come from state revenue sources, such as sales taxes.

But critics question whether there would be enough money to fully replace what local governments and school districts currently receive from property taxes, noting that property taxes generate far more revenue for local governments across Florida.

Jordan said after this year’s cuts, she does not know what else districts could afford to lose.

“Can we afford to lose more teachers? Can we afford to lose programs, you know, lunches, I mean, whatever that looks like?” Jordan said.

The concerns extend beyond schools.

WINK News Anchor Claire Galt also texted with Immokalee Fire Chief Michael Choate, who said he calculated his department would lose approximately $3.7 million under the governor’s proposal — about 34 percent of the department’s budget.