With just weeks remaining in Florida’s legislative session, Governor Ron DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez are at odds over how to deliver tax relief to Floridians. The debate centers on two competing proposals: DeSantis’ push for property tax reductions and Perez’s plan to slash the state’s sales tax rate.

DeSantis has repeatedly called for significant cuts to property taxes, specifically targeting those with homestead exemptions. His long-term vision includes potentially eliminating property taxes altogether. At a recent press conference, he criticized his own party for prioritizing other tax cuts, such as those benefiting non-residents. “People are getting killed on property taxes,” DeSantis said. “We should be doing property tax relief, but instead, they’re focused on tax cuts for Canadian tourists and non-residents.”

On the other hand, Perez is championing a historic reduction in the state’s sales tax from 6% to 5.25%, which he says would save Floridians $5 billion annually. “This is the first time in U.S. history a state has cut its sales tax rate by this much,” Perez stated. He argued that this approach would provide broad relief to all Floridians while reducing government spending.

Perez also expressed concerns about the governor’s property tax plan, suggesting it could lead to long-term budget increases and insufficient funding for critical areas like education. While he is not entirely opposed to property tax relief, he emphasized the need for a balanced approach that ensures all affected programs remain adequately funded.

This disagreement marks the latest in a series of clashes between DeSantis and legislative leaders this year. Despite their differences, both sides agree on the need for meaningful tax relief during this session. As the Florida House and Senate prepare to finalize their budget proposals in the coming weeks, negotiations will determine which vision prevails before the 2025 legislative session ends on May 2.

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