House Speaker Daniel Perez has publicly challenged Governor Ron DeSantis regarding the lack of concrete policy proposals to eliminate property taxes, despite the governor’s vocal support for property tax reform. In a statement to Florida Politics, Perez emphasized, “The Governor has not produced a plan on property taxes. Period. It’s unclear what he wants to do. I’ve personally reached out to share with him the House’s proposals and he has, so far, not wanted to engage in a conversation.”
Perez’s comments come in response to DeSantis’s ambitious declaration to “abolish” property taxes, prompting Perez to question the specifics of such a plan, stating, “So when the Governor says he wants to ‘abolish’ property taxes. How? We don’t have any details.”
Last week, the House unveiled several options aimed at reducing property taxes, which would be presented to voters on the 2026 ballot, allowing them to approve “some, all, or none” of the options available. However, DeSantis has criticized this approach, arguing on social media that presenting multiple measures is a strategy to undermine serious attempts at property tax reform. “Placing more than one property tax measure on the ballot represents an attempt to kill anything on property taxes. It’s a political game, not a serious attempt to get it done for the people,” he stated.
In response to the criticism, Perez defended the House’s initiatives, reiterating that the proposals were made in good faith amid uncertainty about the willingness of others to act. He pointed out the various measures put forth, which include the possibility of eliminating non-school homestead property taxes, and proposed a range of options that could appeal to voters. “What the House does have is a proposal that reflects the Governor’s comments in the media and can garner the support of voters in November—the elimination of non-school property taxes on all homesteaded properties, in addition to a range of possible ballot initiatives,” Perez said.
This ongoing tension highlights the complexities involved in addressing property tax reform in Florida and reflects broader political divisions among Republican leadership. The proposals from the House present an opportunity for voters to engage in meaningful tax reform discussions ahead of the upcoming elections. With an emphasis on collaboration, both Perez and DeSantis have the potential to address the pressing concerns of Florida residents while navigating their political differences.