Florida's Proposed Property Tax Amendment: What You Need to Know

If you've been hearing about Florida's proposed property tax amendment, you're probably wondering one thing:

Will this lower my property taxes?

The short answer is: For many homeowners, yes. But there's more to the story, especially here in Leon County.

Here's a simple breakdown of what's being proposed and what it could mean if voters approve the amendment this November.

What Is the Amendment?

The proposed constitutional amendment would appear on the November 2026 ballot. If approved by at least 60% of Florida voters, it would take effect beginning with the 2027 tax year.

The biggest change is an increase to Florida's homestead exemption for non-school property taxes.

Here's how it would work:

It's important to know that school property taxes are not affected, so even homeowners receiving the larger exemption would still pay school taxes.

What Does That Mean in Real Life?

Let's use a simple example.

If your home is assessed at $300,000:

Under current law

• County and city taxes are based on $250,000.
• School taxes are based on $275,000.

If the amendment passes in 2027

• County and city taxes would be based on $150,000.
• School taxes would still be based on $275,000.

Beginning in 2028

• County and city taxes would be based on just $50,000.
• School taxes would remain unchanged.

That means many homeowners would see lower county and city property taxes, but not an elimination of their entire tax bill.

Who Benefits?

The proposal mainly benefits homeowners who qualify for Florida's Homestead Exemption.

Current Leon County homeowners with an established homestead before the end of 2026 would generally qualify for the larger exemption.

People moving to Florida after January 1, 2027 would generally begin with the current $50,000 non-school exemption and become eligible for the larger exemption after five years.

Vacation homes, second homes, and investment properties would not qualify for the increased homestead exemption, although the proposal would reduce the assessment cap on many non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%.

What About Renters?

The amendment does not provide a direct property tax reduction for renters.

Whether landlords pass along any tax savings would be their decision.

The proposal also allows the Legislature to consider renter relief in the future, but no specific program or funding is included in the amendment itself.

Why Is Leon County Talking About It?

Leon County has published information explaining how the amendment could affect local government finances.

According to the County's estimates, once the proposal is fully implemented, Leon County could receive approximately $70.7 million less in annual property tax revenue.

The County notes that much of its property tax revenue is already committed by state law to mandatory obligations such as:

• Sheriff's Office
• Constitutional officers
• Courts
• Medicaid obligations
• Other state-required services

After those required expenses, County officials estimate that approximately $3.5 million would remain for many other locally funded services if no replacement revenue source is created.

What Services Could Be Affected?

Leon County says property taxes currently help fund services including:

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Libraries
• Parks
• Emergency management
• Animal control
• Veterans services
• Transportation and stormwater maintenance
• Building and permitting
• Solid waste services

County officials note that if property tax revenue declines significantly, local governments may need to reduce services, increase fees, find alternative funding sources, or use some combination of those options.

Why Is Leon County Different?

Leon County has a unique challenge compared to many Florida counties.

As Florida's capital, Leon County includes large amounts of tax-exempt property, including:

• State government buildings
• Florida State University
• Florida A&M University
• Tallahassee State College

These properties don't pay county property taxes but still rely on services like public safety, roads, emergency response, and infrastructure. The County says that makes revenue reductions more significant here than they might be elsewhere.

The Bottom Line

This amendment could lower property taxes for many Florida homeowners by increasing the homestead exemption for county and city taxes.

At the same time, Leon County officials estimate it would substantially reduce local property tax revenue unless other funding sources are identified.

As with any constitutional amendment, voters will ultimately decide whether they believe the tax savings outweigh the potential impacts on local government funding and services.

If you're a homeowner, buyer, seller, or simply trying to understand how this proposal could affect Tallahassee's housing market, now is a good time to learn how Florida's property tax system works before casting your vote.