Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to talk about eliminating property taxes, the state’s AI legislation, and next year’s midterm elections.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has outlined the next regulatory steps for the state’s effort to eliminate property taxes on primary residences in Florida.
“The reality is that these local governments have spent too much, and people are paying more and more for it. And at some point you think, when is enough, enough?”
DeSantis reiterated Friday that the goal is to “completely” eliminate property taxes for homeowners — a move that, if passed, would make Florida the first state in the nation to eliminate property taxes on primary residences while also having no income tax.
A TALE OF TWO FLORIDAS: REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY Torn TOW BY DESANTIS’ Push to Abolish Real Estate Taxes
Lawmakers are reportedly working on a package of proposals in the Florida House, including a $500,000 exemption for homesteads (with a potential maximum of $1 million for seniors), a cap on tax increases and the possibility of eliminating property taxes on homesteads altogether.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida speaks during a press conference announcing an audit of Broward County spending at the FDOT District 4 office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 22, 2025. (Getty Images)
According to the Florida Policy Institute (FPI)Property taxes generate approximately $55 billion annually and provide approximately 18% of county revenues, 17% of municipal revenues and up to 60% of school district funding in many areas. The group warns that eliminating property taxes could trigger a dramatic increase in other revenue sources — some estimates say the state tax would rise from 6% to as much as 12%.
DeSantis’ office pitched the proposal in March and has since vetoed it a study of property taxes that evaluates how local governments use tax revenues and what happens when they are reduced. DeSantis clarified that the tax cuts may need to be phased in and that 60% of voters will need to approve the proposal on the 2026 ballot.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez discusses how New York’s high taxes and left-wing policies are driving wealthy residents to Florida and fueling record growth in Miami’s booming economy.
‘The majority of our property tax revenue is [from] non-residents of Florida because people have second homes…and commercial real estate. This amounts to approximately 30% of the total quantity [total property tax] gain. Now you may have to introduce it gradually; There will be things we will do. We are all sensitive to that. I want something that can work, and I want something that can pass,” DeSantis said Friday.
The governor also claimed that local property tax revenues have increased significantly from an estimated $32 billion in 2019, giving the state the opportunity to substantially increase its rainy day fund.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is running in key races on the East Coast. Election Day on ‘Hannity.’
“Think about it – can you have a situation where every five or six years you increase budgets by 50, 60%? Part of it was we had a boom with COVID, everyone was rushing to Florida, [which] caused property values to rise,” DeSantis noted.
“But how come you buy a house for $350,000 and then, four years later, they tell you it’s worth a million dollars and you have to pay more property taxes? That’s not right.”
