TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — As Floridians wait for the governor to register in the state’s budget, they are also wondering about the popular hurricane tax holiday. This year, major changes took place at the Capitol, shaping the way residents save storm preparations.
The state’s long-standing hurricane sales tax leave is gone. Instead, lawmakers approved annual tax cuts on major storm supply.
“It’s no longer a week or two to buy a generator and get exempt from sales tax all year round,” said House Speaker Danny Perez (R-Miami).
So will Floridians save a lot of hurricane preparation this year? It depends on what you want to buy.
If you have expensive items in stock such as portable generators, tarps, fire extinguishers, tie-down kits, or household batteries, you’re lucky. However, if you’re focusing on a flashlight, power bank, weather radio or lantern, there’s no discount.
What’s in it:
Household Battery Fuel Tank Portable Generator (Under $3000) Waterproof Tap Ground Anchor Tie Down Kit Bottle Water (Already Tax-Free) First Aid Kit (Already Tax-Free) Kit (Already Tax-Free) Food (Already Tax-Free) Fire Extinguisher Smoke Detector Carbon Monoxide Detector Sunscreen Insect
Items featured: Items that are not specific to disaster response
Reusable Ice Pack Lantern Flashlight Candle Portable Power Bank Weather Radio
“A lot of people are moving to Florida who have never experienced a storm,” said Senate Speaker Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula). “We will hear you and meet you, and we are strengthening it.
Some Democrats are concerned about the broader tax package, and minority leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) says sales taxes are needed for hurricane preparation, but the state needs to be fully funded.
“It’s practice of taking bad things to bad things,” Driskel said. “We absolutely need tax breaks to prepare for the hurricane we represent in Tampa Bay. We’ve had a few storms very late in the season, and I think it’s important to encourage Floridians to prepare to keep it to a minimum.
Like it or not, Switch sails through both rooms, waiting for the governor’s signature.
