A new statewide poll shows Florida’s property tax relief ballot measure has enough support to pass this November, according to survey results released by government and political public relations firm Sachs Media.
The poll found 64% of Floridians support reducing their property tax bill on their primary residence this November. The measure originated as a ballot proposal from Gov. Ron DeSantis before being tweaked during a special legislative session.
Support for the amendment splits sharply along party lines. Eighty-seven percent of Republicans surveyed said they plan to vote in favor, compared with 62% of no-party-affiliation voters and 35% of Democrats. Sachs Media surveyed 850 Florida voters from June 22-24 using a random sample of the state voter file.
The amendment would exempt the first $250,000 of homestead property value from taxation on most local levies. Support cuts across homeowner and renter lines, with nearly identical backing from both groups at 65% and 64%, respectively.
The poll also asked voters about the amendment’s broader economic impact. Forty-two percent of respondents said they believe the measure would make people more likely to move to Florida from another state, compared with 12% who said it would push residents out, while 24% expected no real impact. Among homeowners, 57% said they would be more likely to stay in their current home if the measure passes.
Gov. DeSantis commented on the scaled-back version of the proposal that emerged from the special session, saying lawmakers would only pass the reduced version, calling it “still positive” but not the full opportunity that was on the table.
The No On 3 campaign pushed back on the measure in a statement, arguing Floridians will reject the amendment because of what it would cost local communities, saying it would hand tax breaks to billionaires and large corporations while shifting costs onto residents amid an affordability crisis, and that it would cut into funding for fire departments, EMTs, hospitals, children’s services, parks and libraries.
The amendment needs 60% voter approval on the November 3 ballot to be added to the Florida Constitution.
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