Billions at stake: Florida property tax proposal heads to voters

 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida voters will have the final say this November on a proposed property tax cut that supporters say could save homeowners thousands of dollars.

But as lawmakers approved the measure Tuesday, local leaders across Southwest Florida raised questions about what it could mean for services funded by property taxes.

One of those concerns came from Bonita Springs Fire Chief Greg DeWitt.

Bonita Fire is a special district, meaning it does not receive funding from Lee County or the City of Bonita Springs. Instead, the department relies entirely on property tax revenue to operate.

If voters approve the proposal, DeWitt estimates the department would lose more than $8 million over two years.

"How are we going to make ends meet? How are we going to continue the service that the citizens of Bonita Springs in southwest Florida have grown to be accustomed to, whether it's rescue units, fire department units, special operations units — we're all part of Task Force 6," DeWitt told WINK News.

DeWitt said the concern comes as Southwest Florida continues to grow. He worries the department could struggle to hire additional firefighters, expand services and fund training programs.

He also told WINK News the district would likely have to raise its tax rate in an effort to make up some of the lost revenue, though he does not believe that would fully close the gap.

Other local leaders are urging voters to understand what property taxes currently fund before casting their ballots.

Holly Smith, a Sanibel city council member, former mayor and president of the Florida League of Cities, traveled to Tallahassee during the special session.

Smith said the discussion should include what property tax dollars pay for in local communities.

On Sanibel, she said those dollars fund everything from police departments to parks.

"We've got to look to our public and say, 'What services are you willing to give up?'" Smith said.

She also reflected on Sanibel's experience after Hurricane Ian, when the city temporarily lost much of its tax base.

"Ultimately we will have to come to the state with our hand out, and that's very humbling," Smith said. "After the storm, we didn't have a tax base anymore. We knew what it was like to have to come and have your hand out."

WINK News brought those concerns directly to Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, who supports the proposal.

After hearing concerns from fire districts, WINK News asked Ingoglia specifically about independent special districts like Bonita Fire that do not receive county or city funding.

"Different structure, the different way they tax," Ingoglia said. "They still should be able to take care of what they need to take care of."

Ingoglia said he believes local governments across Florida have significantly expanded spending in recent years and should be able to find savings without reducing essential services.

"I would say that almost every single government in the state of Florida has expanded government enormously over the past six years," Ingoglia said. "They are taking tax dollars and spending it where they actually don't need it."

But local leaders dispute that characterization.

WINK News asked Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman about the argument last week.

"This is one of those scenarios where Lee County gets punished because other counties don't do it the right way," Hamman said. "In Lee County, we're very lean."

Hamman noted counties can levy up to $10 per $1,000 of taxable value. He said Lee County's rate is about $3.75 per $1,000.

"We're one of the lowest-tax counties in the whole state of Florida, and we're getting punished because other counties overspend," Hamman said.

Ingoglia, however, maintained that local governments should first look at administrative and bureaucratic spending before considering cuts to services.

"I will tell you that a lot of these local governments are going to be using scare tactics, saying that they're going to have to cut essential services," Ingoglia said. "They don't, they're just trying to keep their large, bloated budgets."

Another major question throughout the debate has been whether state funding could help offset losses if local governments and special districts do see revenue declines.

Lawmakers removed references to a state trust fund from the ballot language before approving the proposal, arguing the fund does not currently exist and there is no guarantee it will ever be created.

Supporters of the proposal say that does not mean state assistance is off the table.

"I think we have set aside a tremendous amount of money to backfill any shortages that occur," Fort Myers Sen. Jonathan Martin told WINK News. "I'm going to be advocating to make sure that our special districts are able to function."

WINK News asked Ingoglia where that money would come from.

"It's going to have to be appropriated in the next legislative session that happens next spring," Ingoglia said.

Ingoglia said any state funding would primarily be intended for fiscally constrained counties that lack the tax base needed to provide essential services on their own.

Lawmakers also made several significant changes to the proposal before approving it.

After concerns were raised by lawmakers in both parties, the Legislature preserved property taxes that fund Florida's public schools. Lawmakers also ensured constitutional offices such as clerks of court and supervisors of elections could continue to be funded through property taxes.

Supporters say the proposal will provide long-awaited relief for homeowners who have watched property values and tax bills rise for years. Local leaders say voters should carefully consider what those tax dollars currently pay for in their communities.

The proposal now heads to the November ballot, where Florida voters will have the final say.