In Florida, the cost of living has increased tremendously for those who own a home; the main reason is that the value of homes is pushing up the property taxes, and this, of course, is affecting homeowners, but mostly retirees. Because of this situation, governor Ron DeSantis asked for action, and the Florida House of Representatives responded with a bunch of ideas to help with the crisis.
The most heard of is HJR 205, which proposes to exempt the seniors from paying non-school property tax, the context being that if your income is fixed, a bill that increases every year can break all the balance.
To leave the citizens decide by vote how they want to face the problem, especially the ones who feel it the most; seniors and retirees. That’s what the debate is about.
What are they proposing ?
The origin of the problem, as mentioned before, is the cost of living crisis, which is very easy to spot in each property taxes receipt. Paul Renner, leader of Florida House of Representatives pushed the debate to a vote made by affected ones, the people.
HJR 205 would offer a relief to retirees, because it would take away form their hands the non-scholar homestead property tax from the ones who qualify, if the voters approve.
For Renner, “What has been lost in this debate is the fact that the final decision on what should happen with property taxes does not belong to elected officials, but to the people of Florida.” Then, he added:“If we have faith in voters to elect us, we should not be afraid to let them be part of the conversation about the taxes they pay,”
DeSantis supports this initiative and claim he’s in favor of getting rid off state property taxes.
What would be the measures?
Although HJR 205 is focused in retirees, this package has many other propositions that would also be included on the votes:
HJR 201 would eliminate the non-school homestead property tax for all owners.
HJR 203 Would do the same, but gradually over ten years, so that the transition is smoother.
HJR 2 proposes a specific exemption for people over 65 years old about the non-school homestead property tax.
HJR 207 proposes an exemption of 25% from the appraised value of the house (only over the non-school portion).
HJR 209 offers an exemption of 100,000 dollars in the non-scholar homestead property tax for insured main residences.
HJR 211 eliminates the “portability” cap, which means that it allows the tax savings accumulated in the previous one to be transferred to a new home, something that can be useful for those who move or reduce the size of their house.
HJR 213 asks to slows down the increase: it would limit it in non-school taxes assessed on a home to 3% every three years.
Decision is on the voters hands
The next step is to vote. And it’s the voters who will decide whether HJR 205 goes ahead, and the retirees get a relief from the non-scholar homestead property tax. Or maybe if the relief is general, or gradual, or just a bit more flexible for everyone.
That decision is not clear yet, but what is clear is that power is on the people. Right now, when also many people are thinking about social security for 2026, and the open enrollment for Medicare where prices are raising, the debate sounds like a possible piece of mind.
Of course it doesn’t mean that the cost of living will suddenly fix itself, there’s way too much inflation for it to be that easy, but it will help home owners and specially retirees to go through it with a bit more serenity.