A Republican state representative is pushing to eliminate Florida’s entire property tax system and replace it with alternative revenue sources, positioning the effort as a backup plan after the Legislature failed to advance a constitutional amendment during its regular session.
Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, R-Belleview, says he wants to launch a petition campaign to place a measure before voters that would eliminate property taxes on all properties in Florida. If enough signatures are gathered, the measure could appear on the 2028 ballot.
Chamberlin argues the current system amounts to the government maintaining an indefinite claim on private property. “I believe that we can eliminate and replace,” he said. “The government should not have a lien on anybody’s property.”
The proposal would eventually eliminate property taxes across all categories — residential, commercial, school district, and public safety — though Chamberlin indicated the effort would likely begin with homestead properties.
To replace the lost revenue, Chamberlin has proposed transaction-based alternatives, including a one-time sales fee on property purchases. He also suggested that a small increase in the state sales tax — noting that each additional cent generates billions of dollars — could offset the loss, partly by capturing revenue from the roughly 140 million tourists who visit Florida each year but currently contribute nothing toward local public safety costs.
Chamberlin said the transition would not require cuts to schools, fire departments, or public safety, and estimated that the full phase-out of the property tax system could take 6 to 8 years.
Critics of broader property tax elimination efforts have warned that the move could affect local services and require fees to be raised elsewhere. The Florida Senate did not support the House’s property tax relief plan during the regular session, which ended without a budget agreement. Lawmakers are expected to return for a special session before the July 1 deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown.
Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Google, & X
St. Pete-Clearwater Sun: local St. Pete-Clearwater news at PIE-Sun.com
St. Pete-Clearwater Sun 
Leave a comment