TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a significant policy announcement, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis detailed the state’s effort to completely eliminate property taxes on primary residences during Friday’s appearance on “Fox & Friends.”

DeSantis explained that amending the state constitution would be necessary for this change. He emphasized that while eliminating local property taxes requires voter approval through constitutional means (mandating at least 60% support), it remains a viable goal.

“The property tax burden is fundamentally local,” DeSantis said during his interview segment. “We’d need to explore constitutional pathways, including potential reforms or elimination of these levies.”

He further stated that the plan involves direct exemptions from taxation and significant budgetary adjustments for rural counties previously reliant on this revenue source.

“While I agree with implementing tax cuts where appropriate, we must also consider alternative funding mechanisms,” DeSantis noted.

The governor’s administration is currently advancing legislative measures related to property taxes. These include a $500,000 homestead exemption (potentially capped at $1 million for qualifying retirees), restrictions on future assessment increases, and the option to fully eliminate property taxes in certain circumstances.

State analysts have cautioned regarding the financial impact of such changes. The Florida Policy Institute indicated that eliminating these local property tax burdens could significantly alter state revenue streams, potentially requiring adjustments to other taxing mechanisms like sales tax structures or alternative funding models for essential county services.

Despite this concern, DeSantis has stressed the need to proceed with constitutional protection measures as soon as possible given available surplus funds.