Andrade warns Save Our Homes Florida could cut schools, law enforcement
State Rep. Alex Andrade said the save our homes florida property tax plan could strip money from school districts and law enforcement budgets. Gov. Ron DeSantis has called lawmakers back next week to act on the plan, which would then go to voters in November if it clears the Legislature.
Andrade's county estimates
Andrade said his rough math shows over $40 million in Santa Rosa County and over $70 million in Escambia County could be cut from school district budgets in 2027 when the proposal takes effect. He also said the plan does not keep law enforcement budgets at least at the same level they are today.
“This proposal also doesn't keep law enforcement budgets at least at the same level they are today,” Andrade said on Pensacola News Radio 92.3. He added that the plan “does allow for paying for law enforcement, but it says nothing about protecting their budgets.”
DeSantis' property tax plan
DeSantis has said the proposal would exempt the first $250,000 of a home's value from taxation and include a schedule for full elimination. It also would require a 5-year residency requirement to qualify for homestead exemption and would limit future property taxes on businesses.
He said, “Focusing on homestead is a way to show, 'Look, we think that there's too much revenue going from taxpayers to these local governments; it doesn't mean they don't need anything,'” and added, “Obviously you have to run services, but all the time the taxpayers are having to pay more and more for basically the same level of services they would have gotten ten years ago, when their property tax bill was a lot less.”
Pensacola and the counties
Pensacola Mayor DC Reeves said 72% of homestead properties within the city are assessed at under $250,000, which means the proposal would give full property tax relief to 72% of the homes. He also pointed to county estimates showing a $36 million loss in Escambia County for the 2027-28 fiscal year, close to $36 million in Santa Rosa County and a $25 million drop in Okaloosa County.
The proposal would require local governments to use remaining property taxes for core public needs, including public safety, infrastructure, education and natural resources. It would need a 60% majority to pass after lawmakers act next week, and a digital poll with over 400 votes found 85% support and 15% opposition.
