Statewide, media operates headlines that hype Governor Ron DeSantis’ feud with Florida House Speaker Danny Perez.
This issue has evolved into a debate over taxes, which should prioritize reductions such as sales tax or property tax. Here is a timeline overview of how this discussion developed.
This began in February this year when Desantis proposed to eliminate property taxes for homeowners through constitutional measures regarding the 2026 voting. This was followed by another idea. voting measures for 2026 will be to raise a homestead exemption for homeowners. There were subsequent suggestions to study ways to replace local spending if property taxes were abolished.
Recently, Perez speakers have expressed support for lowering the state’s sales tax from the current 6% to 5.25%. After Perez’s announcement, Gov. DeSantis introduced a new plan to offer $1,000 tax rebates to Florida homeowners.
Both sides say the targeted tax cuts totaled around $5 billion, which could be raised through state reserves and spending cuts. Desantis argues that tax refunds are a better option and that by maintaining the state’s sales tax, tourists and non-residents can contribute, not Floridians.
State forecasts show Florida will have a $2 billion surplus this year. However, to meet the $5 billion tax cut target, analysts suggest that the state will need to cut 4% or cut reserves.
House Speaker Danny Perez said “we need to remove the temptation to use it to resolve the issue of spending.” However, the Capitol currently does not propose plans to cut spending.
Interestingly, the key figures in this discussion could be not Speaker Perez or Gov. DeSantis, but Florida Senator Ben Albritton. This week, Senator Albritton hinted at a balanced approach to tax issues and expressed his openness to a “all above” strategy.
However, there is a warning. If the economy slows, some GOP members suggest that tax cuts should be implemented in the future without increasing taxes. President Albritton highlighted the concern, saying, “At the end of the day, it’s not comfortable to pass on a budget that will balance this year, but will cause a major shortage in the future. Reducing waste and inefficiency is important for liability expenditures. However, costs associated with transportation, clean water and maintaining healthcare infrastructure must also be taken into consideration.”
