The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, launched an online calculator at SaveOurHomesFL.com that allows homeowners to estimate how much they would save on taxes under his tax reform proposal.
The tool, announced by DeSantis on X, greets users with a quote from DeSantis: "Truly owning private property shouldn't mean paying perpetual rent to the government."
To use the calculator, homeowners only need to enter their home address, and the system will display three pieces of information: the estimated taxes for 2025, the estimated taxes with a home exemption of up to $250,000, and the projected annual savings.
The website also includes detailed information about the legislative proposal and a "Myth vs. Reality" section to address the most frequently asked questions.
The calculator was launched days after DeSantis formally presented his plan this week in Tampa and called for a special legislative session starting this Monday to discuss the reform.
The main proposal is to raise the exemption for primary residence—currently set at $50,000—to $250,000 of the taxable value of the primary residence.
Under this scheme, a homeowner with a property valued at $400,000 would only pay taxes on $150,000 of taxable value.
According to DeSantis, the measure would eliminate the property tax for 60% of homeowners in Florida, and it would be implemented gradually, with the exemption taking effect in 2028 if approved.
The governor also announced that the state will establish a fund to compensate schools, law enforcement agencies, and other essential services that currently rely on those revenues.
For property owners, the benefit would be tangible: the Broward appraiser estimates average savings of $1,800 per year, while in Miami-Dade, the average savings would be around $1,500 annually.
However, the fiscal impact on local governments would be significant: Miami-Dade could lose approximately $500 million in annual revenue, while Broward could lose about $329 million.
Critics point out that the proposal is a weakened version of DeSantis' original promise to immediately eliminate all taxes on primary residences, to which the governor responded that the current plan is more likely to be approved.
To be included on the ballot in November 2026, the constitutional amendment requires the support of 60% of both legislative chambers in Florida; then, for final approval, it would need a favorable vote from 60% of the voters.
This proposal is the culmination of over a year of the governor's fiscal agenda, who has been advocating for the elimination of property taxes since April 2025, arguing that "of all the taxes that affect Floridians, property taxes are the most significant."
In October of last year, DeSantis had already publicly warned about the burden of these taxes with a statement that summarized his stance: "We cannot allow our citizens to be forced out of their homes due to property taxes."
Economists estimate that completely eliminating taxes on primary residences could result in a loss of up to $14.1 billion annually in revenue for non-school local governments, a figure that underscores the significance of the upcoming debate in the special session.
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