Property tax cuts could threaten mosquito control funding

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — As Florida lawmakers consider Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposal to cut property taxes, some local agencies are warning the move could eliminate funding and lead to service cuts. 

That includes the Lee County Mosquito Control District, which could lose millions of dollars. 

"It's definitely going to be a challenge,” said Jennifer McBride, communications director for the district. 

The move could strip $6.2 million from the district, McBride said. That’s roughly 21% of its budget. 

The district manages Lee County’s mosquito population by killing larvae and responding to outbreaks. Lee County is one of the most prolific mosquito breeding grounds in the world because of its 56,000 acres of salt marsh, according to the district. 

It’s a special taxing district separate from the board of county commissioners. That independence allows it to quickly respond to public health issues, McBride said. 

But it also means the district can’t dip into a trust fund designed to help local governments cover the cost of essential services, McBride said. The fund is part of DeSantis’s plan to expand Florida's homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000.

Lawmakers will consider the proposal during a special session on Monday. The governor said it’s about making Florida affordable. 

“Florida homeowners need relief,” DeSantis said in a statement. “Now is the time to stand up for taxpayers, enact a historic reform, and save the home of every Floridian.”

McBride said it’s an important discussion to have. She plans to testify before lawmakers in Tallahassee on Monday. 

She cautioned that the cuts could force the district to cut back services, slowing response times. However, she said it’s too soon to know the full impact.  

Other special districts said they could lose money.

Immokalee Fire Chief Michael Choate said his district could lose roughly $3.7 million, which is about 34% of the department’s budget. 

Tice Fire Chief Michael Runk told WINK News the proposal would have a “significant impact” on his district. 

“We are currently only funded by ad-valorem taxes,” Runk said in a statement. “As such, all aspects of our emergency services will be affected.”

There are more than 1,900 special districts across the state specializing in roads, libraries, ports, hospitals, and more. 

McBride said the district is committed to prioritizing public health and will continue to operate.

“We are going to do everything we can to try to keep services the same,” McBride said. "We don't know if we can, but we will absolutely do our best."