Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, sought to ease concerns about the impact of potential property tax cuts, especially on financially strained rural communities. Speaking at a Hardee County legislative delegation meeting on Monday, Albritton told residents, “When it comes to property taxes, everybody breathes. Everybody breathe. Nobody’s going to do anything crazy.” He assured that lawmakers would take a cautious, well-considered approach, saying, “Measure three times, cut once. We’re going to take a measured approach to this and try to figure out what it is we can do.”
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Governor DeSantis Prioritizes Property Tax Cuts
The comments come as lawmakers begin preparations for the 2026 legislative session and Governor Ron DeSantis pushes for a property tax cut to be placed before voters next year. For the proposal to appear on the November 2026 ballot, the Legislature must approve a constitutional amendment and work out the details with the governor. Local governments, which rely heavily on property taxes to fund essential services, are watching closely, particularly rural cities and counties designated as “fiscally constrained.”
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Balancing Tax Relief With Local Government Needs
Albritton, a citrus grower representing a largely rural district, expressed confidence in finding a balance between tax relief and protecting local government operations. “I think there’s a way to give tax relief on property taxes and, at the same time, be able to conserve and protect our core function of local government. I believe there is. That’s the discussion we’re going to be having. We have been having,” he said. Albritton noted that DeSantis “completely gets this” and suggested that the state might help offset lost property tax revenue for rural counties.
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Proposal To Backfill Revenue For Rural Counties
According to Albritton, DeSantis told him, “Well, we ought to be able to do this. There are 31 fiscally constrained counties. Let’s just backfill there. We have the resources, we have the money. So let’s just backfill those. Let’s make sure that rural Florida doesn’t come under some unusual strain, when they already exist that way every single day.” This approach could help rural communities avoid severe financial impacts if property taxes are reduced.
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Key Details Still To Be Decided
Lawmakers must determine the extent of any property tax cut, how it would be applied, and how local services would continue to be funded. DeSantis has even raised the possibility of eliminating property taxes altogether. In response, the Florida House has formed a select committee to address the issue. County legislative delegations are holding meetings in advance of the 2026 session and are likely to receive significant public input on the topic.
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Local Officials Highlight Growth-Related Pressures
Winter Haven City Manager Michael Stavres told the Polk County delegation on Tuesday that most of their ad valorem revenue growth comes from new development rather than higher bills for existing residents. “Each new resident brings with them a greater demand for public service, public safety, parks, utilities, infrastructure,” Stavres said, emphasizing the strain on resources caused by Florida’s population growth and the state’s efforts to attract new residents.