{"id":317679,"date":"2025-10-20T04:18:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T04:18:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/317679\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T04:18:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T04:18:20","slug":"property-tax-cut-bills-flood-state-capitol-one-could-cost-jax-millions-without-voter-approval-104-5-wokv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/317679\/","title":{"rendered":"Property tax cut bills flood State Capitol, one could cost Jax millions without voter approval \u2013 104.5 WOKV"},"content":{"rendered":"

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Eight new proposals were filed to limit, phase out, or immediately eliminate property taxes just on Thursday alone. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s going to be a top-priority issue for Florida lawmakers in the upcoming session, but it\u2019s unclear which one will win out in the end. <\/p>\n

The first bill out of the gate, looking to tackle property tax relief, was filed earlier in the week.<\/p>\n

It takes a somewhat novel approach, and it wouldn\u2019t require voters to approve it like the majority of the proposals filed Thursday.<\/p>\n

State Representative Ryan Chamberlin (R-Ocala) is sponsoring what he\u2019s dubbed \u201cFreedom1\u201d, which amounts to a forced rollback of millage rates.<\/p>\n

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

The bill would require school districts and counties to revert back to the property tax revenues they generated in the 22\/23 fiscal year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat drops $8 billion, $8 billion of instant relief on the homeowners here in the State of Florida,\u201d said Chamberlin.<\/p>\n

Action News Jax dug into the numbers and found that under Chamberlin\u2019s proposal, which would impact property taxes for businesses and homeowners alike, the City of Jacksonville and Duval County School District would have to reduce revenues by hundreds of millions of dollars within the next year or two.<\/p>\n

According to council auditors, for the city alone, that figure would likely top $400 million.<\/p>\n

\u201c$400 million is a lot to carve out of this budget,\u201d said Councilmember Ron Salem (R-Group 2 At-Large).<\/p>\n

Salem was among those who fought for the recent $13 million property tax cut, which passed on a narrow vote after countless hours of debate.<\/p>\n

Dropping the city\u2019s $2 billion budget by nearly 25 percent, however, would be a whole other story.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce it gets in the budget, it\u2019s very, very difficult to get it out,\u201d said Salem.<\/p>\n

In a statement, the mayor\u2019s office indicated the proposal would force the city to cut its workforce by more than 2,400 employees and \u201cwould be catastrophic for public safety and the services that citizens rely on\u201d.<\/p>\n

But Chamberlin noted this bill is just one part of a multi-phased plan he envisions to eliminate property taxes altogether and replace revenues with alternatives like increased sales taxes.<\/p>\n

[DOWNLOAD: <\/b>Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/b><\/a>]<\/b><\/p>\n

The push for property tax cuts comes as property values across the state have skyrocketed in recent years, leaving homeowners with larger tax bills and local governments with an influx of cash.<\/p>\n

Chamberlin argued local governments were able to get by just a few years ago with hundreds of millions of dollars less, and should be able to do so again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re talking quadruple inflation. This is not normal. This is not a normal increase, and if we\u2019re going to fix the property tax system, we\u2019ve got to get it under control and rein it back a little bit,\u201d said Chamberlin.<\/p>\n

Chamberlin said his bill wouldn\u2019t impact special property taxes that were specifically approved by voters. <\/p>\n

So, the $100 million-plus generated annually by DCPS as a result of the 2022 referendum for teacher pay, arts, and athletics would be safe. <\/p>\n

Still, the school district would likely have to reduce revenues by at least $150 million under the plan.<\/p>\n

The eight bills filed today:<\/b><\/p>\n