Ron DeSantis rips property taxes as ‘rent to government,’ says US homeowners are treated like ATMs. What you can do

Core Viewpoint - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is advocating for the elimination of property taxes on homestead properties, arguing that homeowners should not be treated as a continuous source of revenue for local governments [4][5]. Group 1: Property Tax Increases - Property tax bills in Florida have been rising significantly, with Jacksonville seeing a 59.6% increase to a median monthly tax of $228 from 2019 to 2024, Tampa's increasing by 56.7% to $250, and Miami's climbing 48.1% to $367 [3]. - The state is home to three of the five major U.S. metros with the highest property tax increases since 2019 [3]. Group 2: Government Revenue Dependency - Property taxes are crucial for local government funding, accounting for 18% of county revenue, 17% of municipal revenue, and between 50% and 60% of school district revenue in Florida [6]. - These taxes support essential community services, including police and fire protection, education, and safety net programs [6]. Group 3: Proposed Changes - DeSantis plans to propose a constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes on homestead properties, which will be presented to voters in November 2026, requiring 60% approval to pass [5].