Debate over property tax measure continues as lawmakers clash over plan that could defund local services

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WINK) — Lawmakers are debating Gov. DeSantis' property tax plan during a special session, but questions remain about how it will impact local services.

If lawmakers decide to move any measure forward, the final decision will be up to voters on their ballot. Democrats argued on Tuesday that the current language voters would read at the polls is deceiving.

During the debate in the House, the presenter of the bill said if property tax revenue significantly goes down, local governments still have plenty of other taxes they can raise. Democrats said that proves their point—this isn't a tax break, it's a tax shift, and people will just end up paying more somewhere else.

"You said that there are many ways that we can fill this $8 billion hole, fees, taxes, food and beverage taxes, fuel taxes. Are you planning to inform the public when they go to the voting booth that that's probably what's going to happen, that those are the options?" a state Democratic lawmaker said. "Because I didn't see that listed on any of the graphics, nor did I see any of that in the ballot language."

There are also still questions about where the money will come from to fund essential services that rely on property tax revenue, like law enforcement and EMS. Special districts, like some fire departments that get 100% of their funding from property taxes, are also at risk, some lawmakers say.

Gov. DeSantis has said property tax revenues collected by local governments has nearly doubled in the past seven years (from $32 billion to $60 billion) and is expected to reach $83 billion by 2032. "Florida homeowners need relief. Now is the time to stand up for taxpayers, enact a historic reform, and save the home of every Floridian," DeSantis said in a recent tweet.

Both sides did agree to protect funding for schools. This means voters would still have to pay that line on their TRIM notice.

The special session on the property taxes is expected to run through June 3rd.