Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell’s plan to trade the county’s half-cent indigent health care sales tax for a full penny infrastructure surtax goes before the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) this week, and the version he sent to Tallahassee asks for more taxing authority than the public plan describes.

Braswell said in an interview Tuesday with The Citrus Tea News that Polk submitted a proposal to the association, the lobbying arm for Florida’s 67 county commissions, and that the submitted version sought a 1.5-cent limit rather than the 1 percent surtax laid out in his August policy white paper. He described the higher figure as deliberate. The Citrus Tea News obtained a copy of the outlined proposal at the end of this article for readers to review.

“What we said to them was a little more aggressive than what I’ve suggested, with the idea that we’ll have to give something up. There’s some room to kind of bargain with that.” – Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell

FAC meets in Jacksonville This Week

The association’s Innovation and Policy Conference runs Wednesday and Thursday at the Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic in Duval County. Under a format the association adopted this year, all seven standing policy committees will meet in a single Policy Coordination Forum on Thursday morning, where committee chairs introduce the proposals counties submitted by the September 2 deadline. No votes are taken at that session. A separate Property Tax Forum follows Thursday afternoon to identify advocacy priorities for the 2027 legislative session.

Final action comes at the association’s Legislative Conference, scheduled for December 2 through 4 at the Sawgrass Marriott in St. Johns County, where the membership votes to adopt the policies the association will carry to the Legislature. Braswell is not attending this week’s conference.

The timing places the proposal in front of other counties one day before it would face any vote, and three weeks before Florida voters decide Amendment 3, the constitutional measure raising the homestead exemption. Braswell said Polk should proceed either way.

“What I’m suggesting, I think we should do whether Amendment 3 passes or not,” he said. “There’s no reason not to.”

How The “Swap” Would Work

The plan centers on a trade. The existing half-cent surtax funds the Polk HealthCare Plan, the county’s indigent care program, and has been in place since voters approved it in 2004 and renewed it in 2016.

Braswell’s plan would terminate that levy on December 31, 2027, and begin a 1 percent infrastructure surtax on January 1, 2028, with the county then reducing its property tax levy the following year by the amount of surtax it actually collected.

Braswell said the penny would raise roughly $180 million a year and that the figure closely tracks what Polk County and its 17 cities stand to lose under Amendment 3.

Watch highlights of the August 14, 2026 Agenda Review meeting below.

The Polk County Health Care Fund

Braswell said the county has collected far more indigent care money than it has spent. More than $200 million accumulated in the fund, he said, and he pressed county administration three years ago to spend it down.

“I went to Bill Beasley three years ago, and I’m like, we’re not a bank,” Braswell said. “Spend it.”

That money built 17 health centers, he said, and because the construction is largely finished, future costs are operating costs rather than capital costs. He estimated the ongoing need at closer to $10 million a year.

Braswell said the program is not going away under his plan. Instead, a defined share of the new surtax would fund what he would call a health care portion rather than an indigent care portion, and it would absorb inmate medical costs currently carried by the county sheriff’s office. He put that figure at roughly $12 million a year.

He also disputed the county’s own figure for how many residents the program serves. County health officials have cited 86,000 people covered. Braswell said about 6,000 people are actually enrolled in the Polk HealthCare Plan and that the larger number counts one-time contacts, such as a single vaccination, as individuals served.

“Numbers lie,” he said.

The county has raised eligibility for the program twice, most recently in July, when commissioners lifted the income threshold to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Enrollment has not followed.

“People aren’t signing up,” Braswell said. “I don’t think people really know about it.”

Two Pieces to Figure Out

The first is the legal mechanism for delivering property tax relief. Braswell said the county cannot simply zero out its millage rate because the rate applies to businesses and other property as well as homesteads.

“We’re going to have to come up with a mechanism to basically say, homeowners, you get a rebate,” he said. “I don’t know.”

The second is how the money would be divided with the cities. State law directs infrastructure surtax proceeds to be shared either under an interlocal agreement or, absent one, under a population-based formula in state statute. Braswell said he would rather tie each city’s share to the property tax revenue that city gives up.

“Let’s just do a dollar for dollar,” he said. “You reduce property taxes a million, you’ll get a million out of the sales. You’re made whole.”

Legislative Changes Needed

Infrastructure surtax money can be spent only on capital projects with a useful life of at least five years. It cannot pay salaries or operating costs. Braswell wants that changed, with parks and recreation named specifically.

“As it’s written right now, we could not put it toward parks,” he said. “So why not let us continue to operate essential services?”

The Argument Against the Sales Tax Plan

Asked what the strongest argument against his plan would be, Braswell pointed to the trade itself.

“People will come back and go; you’re just taxing me in a different form,” he said.

He argued the math favors the taxpayer, using an example of a home assessed at $185,000 with a $50,000 exemption paying about $1,000 a year in county property tax. He estimates that the same household would pay between $40 and $50 a year through the sales tax, and really half of that amount in new money because the existing half cent is already being paid. He said most residents spend a large part of their income on groceries or a mortgage, which carry no sales tax. Braswell said he generated part of that estimate using the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT.

Florida’s discretionary sales surtax applies only to the first $5,000 of a single item of tangible personal property, and mortgage payments, groceries and other major household expenses are not subject to sales tax at all.

“It’s the math,” Braswell said. “Understanding the math is going to be the biggest hurdle.”

Read the Sales Tax Plan Document below. This document was obtained by The Citrus Tea News on Sept. 8, 2026, and may not be the most current version. The plan sent to the FAC was a larger and more detailed plan packet, according to Commissioner Braswell.

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FAQs

What is the Polk County sales tax swap plan?
It is a proposal from County Commissioner Bill Braswell to end the county’s half-cent indigent health care sales tax and replace it with a 1 percent infrastructure surtax, then reduce the county property tax levy by the amount of surtax collected the prior year.

When would the new sales tax start?
Braswell’s plan targets ending the half-cent indigent care surtax on December 31, 2027, and starting the 1 percent surtax on January 1, 2028.

Does the plan end the Polk HealthCare Plan?
No. Braswell said a defined share of the new surtax would fund health care and also absorb inmate medical costs he estimated at roughly $12 million a year, moving it out of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) budget.

How many people are enrolled in the Polk HealthCare Plan?
Braswell said about 6,000 people are enrolled. He disputed the county figure of 86,000 covered, saying that number counts one-time contacts such as a single vaccination as individuals served.

When does the Florida Association of Counties vote on the proposal?
Committee chairs introduce submitted proposals Thursday in Jacksonville with no votes taken. The membership votes to adopt final policies at the Legislative Conference December 2 through 4 in St. Johns County.

Disclaimer: The Citrus Tea News is an unbiased news outlet. We do not tell anyone how to vote and we do our best to provide information that helps our readers decide for themselves.

Sources: Polk County Infrastructure and Property Tax Reform Plan, Polk County, August 7, 2026; interview with Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell, Sept. 15, 2026; 2026 Innovation & Policy Agenda, Florida Association of Counties, fl-counties.com; 2026 Policy Proposal Submission, Florida Association of Counties, fl-counties.com; Conferences, Florida Association of Counties, fl-counties.com; Florida Statutes §212.055; Florida Statutes §218.62

The post Polk County Sales Tax Swap Plan Heads To FAC Vote first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Becky Mclachlan. The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell has proposed replacing the county’s half cent indigent care sales tax with a one cent countywide infrastructure sales tax, using the money to drive property taxes down.

Braswell raised the idea at an Aug. 14 work session in Bartow, where commissioners examined what happens to county finances if voters approve Amendment 3 on Nov. 3. He estimated the one cent tax would generate roughly $160 million to $180 million a year, and described a look back mechanism he believes could eventually bring county property taxes near zero.

“A different way of funding local government rather than simply adding another tax,” Braswell said.

No vote was taken. Commissioners asked Braswell and staff to keep developing the proposal, with possible voter consideration as far out as November 2027.

Two obstacles surfaced in the discussion. Florida law would have to change to give Polk County flexibility on when a referendum like this could be placed on the ballot, and the county would need revenue sharing agreements with all 17 cities and towns.

The proposal responds to a projected revenue shortfall commissioners discussed at the meeting. Sheriff Grady Judd told the board that passing Amendment 3 could reduce county revenue by $100 million to $130 million a year, calling the figure staggering. County Manager Bill Beasley identified seven funds that run on property tax dollars, including the General Fund, Emergency Medical, Transportation, Environmental Lands and the Parks, Library and Stormwater MSTUs.

Amendment 3 would raise the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. The Legislature placed it on the Nov. 3 ballot in June, and it needs 60 percent approval to take effect. Read more about Amendment 3 here.

The Citrus Tea News has requested an interview with Braswell and will report further.

Disclaimer: The Citrus Tea News is not here to tell you how to vote. We bring you the information so you can make your own informed decisions.

Sources: “Polk County commissioners to discuss potential impact of property tax cut,” Tampa Bay 28, tampabay28.com, August 13, 2026, updated August 14, 2026; “Polk County commissioner proposes 1 cent sales tax to offset potential property tax loss,” Tampa Bay 28, tampabay28.com, August 2026; SJR 2-F / HJR 1F, Florida Legislature, June 2, 2026

The post Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell Floats One Cent Sales Tax To Replace Property Taxes first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Citrus Tea Staff. The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

Supporters of a proposed 1.0-mill property tax increase for Polk County Public Schools made their public case Tuesday at the Lake Eva Event Center in Haines City, launching a campaign that will ask voters in November to raise their property taxes to pay teachers more.

Ryan DelliVeniri, chair of Citizens for Quality Education Polk, told a crowd of teachers, union members and education supporters that the district opened the 2026-27 school year short more than 500 teachers.

“More than 500 classrooms are without the permanent qualified teachers our students deserve,” DelliVeniri said. “That shortage affects everyone. It means larger classes, fewer course options, greater pressure on the educators who remain, and less individual attention for their children.”

Stephanie Yocum, President of the Polk Education Association, told The Citrus Tea News that the district plans to hold informational meetings ahead of the November vote to inform residents about the measure. Yocum has advocated for higher wages for staff and teachers for more than 10 years.

Superintendent Frederick Heid addressed the crowd and answered questions about the measure.

Voters will decide the question on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. The School Board of Polk County conditionally adopted a resolution to levy the additional mill annually from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2031. The Polk County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on Nov. 18, 2025, to place it before voters.

The ballot title is “Millage for School Safety, Teachers, and Career Education.”

Average Cost per Homeowner for the Next four years

A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value. The proposal would raise the local school millage from 2.248 mills to 3.248 mills.

The district projects the levy would generate about $79 million a year. State law requires the money be shared with charter schools based on enrollment, which would send roughly $13.6 million, about 18 percent, to charter operators. That leaves Polk County Public Schools an estimated $65.6 million.

Of the district’s share, 80 percent, or about $52.5 million, would fund additional compensation for school-based employees. The remaining 20 percent, about $13.1 million, would support school safety and security, fine and performing arts, workforce development and career technical education, and early childhood education.

For homeowners, the district uses the county’s average home market value of $284,419. After the standard $25,000 homestead exemption, taxable value drops to $259,419, putting the added annual cost for that average homesteaded property at roughly $259. Homes assessed below that average would pay less, and homes above it would pay more. Non-homesteaded property, including rentals, second homes, and commercial buildings, would be assessed at full taxable value.

The levy is not permanent. Florida law caps it at four years, after which voters would decide whether to renew it.

The Case Supporters Are Making

The pay comparison is the campaign’s central argument, sourced directly from the district’s own salary data.

Polk’s average teacher salary was $51,613 in 2024-25, with a starting salary of $47,500. Among Florida’s seven largest districts, Polk ranked last in both.

Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Orange, and Palm Beach reported average salaries between $56,364 and $61,847, and all six already levy a 1.0-mill operating referendum.

The pattern repeats along Polk’s borders. Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Orange and Pasco all levy 1.0 mill for school operations. Lake County levies 0.75 mill. Polk levies none.

Per-student funding tells a similar story, citing different figures. The district’s referendum FAQ says Polk ranks 53rd among Florida’s 67 districts; the campaign website says even lower at 61st out of 67.

The district also reports Polk received about $291 less per student than the state average in 2025-26, $8,839.64 compared with $9,130.41.

Heid said the School Board’s decision to send the measure to voters was unanimous.

“I’m proud of the fact that seven board members unanimously voted to put this on the ballot, and I think it represents our sincere commitment to our community,” Heid said.

He said Polk has improved to an 88 percent teacher retention rate while neighboring districts sit at 92 percent or higher, a gap he attributed to those districts having passed referendums.

“The realities of the cost of living, housing costs, and others are very real,” Heid said. He said the district has offered what it can each year, yet staff still struggle.

Many teachers report that they are working one or two part-time jobs just to make ends meet.

Why State Money Has Not Closed the Gap

The referendum campaign arrives two months after the state budget produced far less local salary money than its headline figure suggested.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s $117.6 billion budget for 2026-27 on June 29. It included $1.56 billion for statewide teacher salary increases, with roughly $200 million earmarked specifically for teachers with 10 or more years of experience.

Yocum said in June that eligibility rules narrowed the local effect considerably.

“After the TSIA allocation of $6.7 million for Polk County Public Schools, with the charter school allocation removed and other mandated expenditures, the district’s general fund has about $2.1 million in new money for teacher salary increases, leaving roughly 9,200 employees ineligible for TSIA funding, support staff among them,” Yocum said.

She said the state budget raised Polk’s Base Student Allocation by only $85, a figure that includes the Teacher Salary Increase Allocation and other mandatory funding categories, and that the Legislature has repeatedly narrowed TSIA eligibility since the program began in 2020-21.

Heid has said the district chose to meet the required minimum teacher salary as early as possible, which allowed it to direct later recurring state dollars toward salary compression for experienced teachers. He acknowledged that teachers with fewer than 10 years of service continue to feel pressure from housing, insurance and inflation costs while most of the new state money flows to more experienced staff.

That gap is part of what the referendum is pitched to address. Unlike TSIA, the millage money would not be restricted to classroom teachers with a decade of service. The district’s stated intent covers paraeducators, bus drivers, cafeteria and custodial staff, counselors, school safety personnel, maintenance workers and school administrators.

What the District Says Could Happen If It Fails

The district’s published position is that a failed referendum means continued staff losses to higher-paying neighboring districts, with effects on class sizes, staffing consistency, academic and extracurricular offerings, and the ability to operate schools and buses. The FAQ states that program reductions may become necessary to balance the budget, that arts equipment cannot be replaced at the needed pace, and that safety, early childhood, and workforce programs may face cuts or limits.

The district says it has no other local mechanism available. Two commonly suggested alternatives are barred by state law. School impact fees, charged on new residential construction, may be spent only on capital needs such as buildings, land, and buses, and cannot legally cover salaries, benefits, or any recurring operating costs. The half-cent school capital outlay surtax voters already approved is governed by Section 212.055(6), Florida Statutes, which restricts it to capital projects and explicitly bars its use for operations.

On the argument that the district should cut administrative overhead instead, the district points to Florida Department of Education figures showing Polk spent $515.02 per student on general fund administration in fiscal year 2023-24 and $476.09 the year before, the lowest in the state in both years.

Comparable figures included Hillsborough at $746.24, Lake at $842.09, and Pinellas at $813.58, with Polk roughly $231 to $327 less than the neighboring districts.

What Voters Are Not Being Promised

The ballot language commits the money to categories, not to specific dollar amounts for individual employees.

Under Florida’s Public Employees Relations Act, the School Board must bargain in good faith with certified unions over any new revenue intended to affect pay or benefits. The district acknowledges that even with voter approval, the amounts, eligibility, distribution method, and structure would all have to be negotiated, including whether funds land in base salary or arrive as a recurring supplement, and whether every employee receives the same amount or payments are tiered by role and years of service.

Oversight would be conducted by a Community Finance Review Committee of 14 board-appointed community members plus district staff, meeting at least quarterly, with reports presented to the School Board and posted publicly.

The Affordability Question

The measure reaches voters during an unusually active moment in Florida’s property tax debate, and the county commissioners who were legally required to place it on the ballot made a point of separating themselves from it.

Polk County Commissioners initially moved to delay the vote to January, then reversed. During an agenda review, Commissioner Bill Braswell said the board wanted a clear distinction about the origin of the tax increase. Commissioner Martha Santiago said the concern was that residents would view the commission as the body raising the rate. Rick Wilson, who chaired the commission at the time, said the commissioners wanted to ensure the responsible entity received the credit.

Their legal room to move or reject the measure was limited. The county attorney cited Hillsborough County v. School Board of Hillsborough, a 2024 Second District Court of Appeal ruling holding that calling a school-directed referendum is a ministerial duty, meaning commissioners must place it on the ballot and cannot alter or block it. Commissioners have asked the Legislature to remove them from the process.

Read More on Florida Amendment 3 to Increase Homestead Exemptions

Polk voters will also decide Amendment 3, the DeSantis-backed constitutional amendment the Legislature approved in a June special session, which would raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 and needs 60 percent approval. That exemption expressly does not apply to school district levies. A homeowner who votes for both measures could see non-school property taxes fall while owing the full school millage, including the new mill, on taxable value.

No speakers opposing the referendum appeared at Tuesday’s press conference.

What Comes Next

Citizens for Quality Education Polk is running the political campaign under the banner “Vote Yes for Student Success.” Polk Education Foundation Executive Director Tracy Porter attended the press conference along with other members of the Foundation, the 501(c)(3) direct-support organization that raises money for Polk County Public Schools through scholarships, classroom grants and reading programs.

Polk Education Association President Stephanie Yocum said the school district is limited to informing and educating the public about the millage, and that the union supports the measure and is working to get educators informed about it. Florida law restricts public agencies from using public funds to advocate for or against a ballot measure, though they may distribute factual information. The advocacy work falls to the political committee.

“Every dollar raised will remain here in Polk County, serving Polk County students and schools,” DelliVeniri said. “The measure also provides for independent citizen oversight, so taxpayers can see that the funds are used as promised.”

The district’s referendum FAQ, ballot language and salary comparison tables are posted at polkschoolsfl.com under School Ballot Initiative. The campaign’s site is yesforstudentsuccess.org.

The committee says it plans to work across the county over the coming weeks explaining what the referendum would do and how the money would be spent. The district has released a presentation with a budget overview to provide a better understanding of the 2026 School Ballot Initiative titled: “Millage for School Safety, Teachers, and Career Education.” The full document is posted below.

The Citrus Tea News does not endorse or oppose ballot measures. We report on referendums and constitutional amendments without taking a position. We accept paid political advertising, which is clearly labeled and offered to all sides of a ballot question at the same rates. Advertising has no influence on our coverage.

Sources: “Superintendent and Teachers Union Offer Different Pictures of New State Budget’s Impact on Teacher Pay,” The Citrus Tea News, thecitrustea.com, June 30, 2026; School Ballot Initiative, Polk County Public Schools, polkschoolsfl.com; Frequently Asked Questions: 2026 PCPS Ballot Initiative, Polk County Public Schools, polkschoolsfl.com, Aug. 20, 2026; School Ballot Initiative Presentation, Polk County Public Schools, polkschoolsfl.com, Aug. 21, 2026; Vote Yes For Student Success, Citizens for Quality Education Polk, yesforstudentsuccess.org; About PEF, Polk Education Foundation, polkeducationfoundation.org; Section 212.055(6), Florida Statutes; Hillsborough County v. School Board of Hillsborough County, 395 So. 3d 1116 (Fla. 2d DCA 2024); CS/HJR 1-F, Florida Legislature, June 2026; “Polk County school tax referendum vote,” WTSP, wtsp.com, Nov. 4, 2025; “Polk County commissioners will vote next week on school board millage referendum,” WFLA, wfla.com, Nov. 14, 2025; “Polk County teachers push for raises as commissioners approve placing tax referendum on ballot,” Tampa Bay 28, tampabay28.com, Nov. 18, 2025; “Florida Legislature OKs tweaked property tax amendment for November ballot,” News 6, clickorlando.com, June 2, 2026; Polk Education Association press conference, Lake Eva Event Center, Haines City, Aug. 24, 2026

The post Polk County Property Tax Increase Would Raise Teacher Pay to Keep Staff first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Becky Mclachlan. The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

Haines City, Fla. Monday evening, Haines City Mayor Vernel Smith opened the doors of the commission chambers to residents with one clear message: We aren’t telling you how to vote, we are just here to share the facts.

What followed was more than an hour of detailed information from three of Polk County’s most authoritative voices on property taxes, putting a very local face on a statewide debate that will land on every Florida voter’s ballot on November 3.

The panel included Polk County Property Appraiser Neil Combee, Polk County Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder, and Haines City Finance Director Omar DeJesus. A representative from the office of Polk County Supervisor of Elections, Nathan Register, opened the session with key voting dates and registration deadlines.

The Citrus Tea News was present and reporting.

What Amendment 3, “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” Would Do

Amendment 3 would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes from the current $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. After 2028, the exemption would adjust annually with inflation.

The panel was direct about several points that have caused widespread confusion in public discussion around property tax exemptions and how they will affect the county as a whole with Property Appraiser Tables for 2027 and 2028 budget impacts for county services and each municipality.

One thing however was very clear: property taxes will not be completely eliminated, even if a home’s property value falls under the $250,000 exemption. School board taxes, which represent a significant portion of most homeowners’ bills, are not affected.

As Diana Aguera, a 22-year veteran of the Polk County Property Appraiser’s office who presented alongside Combee, told the room directly: “Nowhere do you see zero.”

The amendment does not eliminate Save Our Homes, the 3 percent annual assessment cap that currently protects existing homeowners from runaway increases in their taxable value.

Special assessments such as stormwater fees, fire assessments, and solid waste charges are not touched by the exemption. For many Polk County homeowners, especially seniors, these non-ad valorem fees represent a significant portion of their total bill.

What the amendment does change for non-homestead properties, including rental properties, second homes, and commercial real estate, is the annual assessment growth cap, reducing it from 10 percent to 5 percent.

The Five-Year Rule

One of the most significant points of the evening involved new homeowners. The amendment includes a provision that affects people who have not yet established permanent residency in Florida. Panelists acknowledged during the presentation that a specific question about how the five-year rule interacted with homestead portability remained unresolved at the time of the town hall.

We followed up with questions to Property Appraiser Combee. See his response in our follow-up article to be published tomorrow for the full clarification.

The Polk County Numbers

Combee put specific figures on the table, drawn from the June 1, 2026 homestead parcel count and calculated using 2025 certified millage rates. He was careful to note that these are estimates based on current conditions and that actual figures would depend on 2026 millage rates, which have not yet been certified by any taxing authority. Final millage rates will be set in September 2026.

Based on those figures, Amendment 3 would mean a projected revenue loss of $98 million per year for the Polk County Board of County Commissioners at the $150,000 exemption level. At the $250,000 level, that figure rises to approximately $133 million.

Those numbers cover only the county commission. When you add every other taxing authority in Polk County, including special districts, water management districts, municipalities, and transit, the total countywide impact across all taxing authorities is well above $150 million annually in year one and exceeds $200 million in year two.

Editor's note: The following presentation and data tables were prepared by the Polk County Property Appraiser's office and distributed to media on July 14, 2026. All revenue loss figures are estimates based on June 1, 2026 homestead parcel counts and 2025 certified millage rates. Reproduced here in its entirety as a public resource for Polk County residents.
Source: Neil Combee, Polk County Property Appraiser. polkflpa.gov.

For Haines City specifically, the projected loss is $7,075,057 at the first phase, rising to $10,345,439 at the second phase. Among Polk County municipalities, Lakeland faces the largest projected loss at $9,313,994 in year one, followed by Winter Haven at $7,691,294, with Haines City ranked third. The smallest municipality, the Town of Hillcrest Heights, with just 68 homestead properties stands to lose the least at an estimated $4,000.

Tedder walked the room through what those numbers mean in practice for everyday services. The Board of County Commissioners distributes roughly $500 million in property tax revenue annually. Approximately $350 million of that goes directly to first responders, including the sheriff, ambulance, and fire services. That leaves roughly $150 million for all other general services such as parks, libraries, roads, and cultural programs. A loss of $130 million at the county level would reduce that discretionary pool to approximately $20 to $30 million.

“If you made $150,000 a year and tomorrow you made $30,000 a year, there are certain things you would not do,” Tedder told the room.

He added that he had not yet decided how he would vote. Tedder’s own operating budget is directly tied to property tax revenue. His office receives a 2 percent commission on property taxes collected, which is what funds driver’s license services, tag renewals, title transfers, and every other service his office provides to Polk County residents. If ad valorem revenue drops significantly, that commission drops with it, as well as the staff to cover those services.

The Haines City Picture

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DeJesus walked residents through the city’s budget transparency portal, publicly available at HainesCity.com, showing exactly where the city spends its money. Haines City’s general fund budget for 2026 is $76 million, of which $28 million comes from ad valorem taxes. At the $150,000 exemption level the city projects losing $7 million of that, roughly 25 percent of its ad valorem tax base. You can view the full presentation below.

Editor's note: The following presentation was prepared and delivered by the City of Haines City at the community town hall on Amendment 3, Monday, July 13, 2026, at City Hall Commission Chambers. It is reproduced here in its entirety as a public resource for Polk County residents. Source: City of Haines City. Town Hall on Property Taxes, City Services and Local Impact, July 13, 2026.

Public safety accounts for 41.3 percent of the general fund, with the police department at $13 million and fire rescue at $9.7 million. Together those two departments total nearly the entire projected post-loss ad valorem revenue, leaving almost nothing for everything else the city funds.

DeJesus noted the city does have a non-ad valorem fire assessment generating about $5 million annually, which provides some offset. The city’s millage rate currently sits at 7.3395, with a state cap of 10, meaning the commission retains some capacity to raise rates if it chose to, though doing so would shift the tax burden to commercial properties and non-homestead owners.

The city also has major capital projects underway, including a $20 million City Hall Annex, a $35 million sports complex at Laury Parish Park, and a $64.5 million wastewater treatment plant expansion. The fire and Emergency Operations Center building, also at $20 million, was recently completed.

What Residents Asked

One resident argued that non-homestead tax revenues have been growing year over year and that adjustments could cover the shortfall. Tedder acknowledged the point but pushed back on the math, noting that the amendment also caps non-homestead assessment growth from 10 percent to 5 percent, limiting how much that revenue base can grow going forward. New construction, he said, brings new people who require new services, and that growth rarely pays for itself on a per-household basis.

A longtime Polk County resident worried about quality of life, naming festivals, cultural events, performing arts, parks, recreation programs, and the community celebrations that define Polk County as services most at risk if discretionary budgets are cut.

Another resident raised a question about equity. Saving money on a mortgage payment is great for homeowners, she said, but if cities have to raise fees to compensate for the loss to cover budgets like parks and recreation, renters and working families who moved to Polk County seeking affordability would absorb those costs without receiving any homestead benefit.

Mayor Smith closed the evening by encouraging residents to continue researching through the property appraiser’s website at polkflpa.gov, the tax collector’s website at polktaxes.com, and the city’s budget transparency portal through HainesCity.com. For information on other municipalities, check local city government websites.

The Citrus Tea News will follow this story closely as we move toward the general election in November.

Key Voting Dates

November 3, 2026 is the general election date. Amendment 3 requires 60 percent statewide voter approval to pass. The result is decided at the state level, not county by county.

Early voting for the general election runs October 19 through October 31. The vote-by-mail request deadline is October 22. The voter registration deadline for the general election is October 5.

To register to vote or check your registration status, visit the Polk County Supervisor of Elections at polkelections.com.

Disclaimer: The Citrus Tea News is not here to tell you how to vote. We bring you the information so you can make your own informed decisions.

Sources: Town hall meeting, Haines City Commission Chambers, July 13, 2026. Panelists: Neil Combee, Polk County Property Appraiser; Joe G. Tedder, Polk County Tax Collector; Omar DeJesus, Haines City Finance Director; Mayor Vernel Smith; staff representative from the Office of Polk County Supervisor of Elections Melony Bell. Revenue figures from Polk County Property Appraiser data based on June 1, 2026 homestead parcel counts and 2025 certified millage rates. All figures are estimates. Actual results would depend on 2026 certified millage rates, which will be set in September 2026. Power point slides from Town Hall included in their entirety.

The post Polk County Officials Explain Amendment 3 on Property Taxes at Town Hall first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Becky Mclachlan. The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

The Haines City Commission has a full plate at its June 18 meeting, with votes expected on a new residential subdivision, gateway signage, water system upgrades, and a contract extension for the city’s top administrative officer.

New Subdivision Coming Near Lake Eva

Commissioners are being asked to approve a preliminary plat for Lake Eva Estates, a proposed 31-lot single-family subdivision on 16.68 acres west of 10th Street South. The project is zoned for low-density residential and comes with an approved traffic study. Polk County Public Schools issued a non-binding school concurrency letter finding adequate capacity at the elementary and middle school level, though Haines City High School is currently over capacity. Ridge Community High School, the adjacent school, has capacity available.

Gateway Signs Moving Forward

The commission is voting on a resolution authorizing the installation of new gateway signage at entry points into the city. The project, which began with AECOM concept renderings in 2023, requires a formal resolution under a Florida Department of Transportation Community Aesthetic Feature Agreement before construction can proceed. No budget impact is associated with this vote.

Water System Work on Multiple Fronts

Three separate utility items are on the agenda. The city is looking to purchase a bypass pump for Lift Station No. 9 for $143,574.51 rather than continue renting one at $103,861 per year, a move staff says will save money while a land acquisition issue delays the full station replacement project. The city is also approving an extra $19,100 in work on its Integrated Water Supply Plan with CHA Consulting to address updated state water use permit requirements. And surveyors from SurvTech Solutions have been hired for $5,345 to map easements needed for a water main extension on Holly Hill Cutoff Road connecting to the Charles Cove development.

City Clerk Contract Extended

The commission is considering a first amendment to City Clerk Sharon Lauther’s employment agreement, extending her term for an additional three years. Lauther was originally appointed in February 2023. The estimated budget impact for the remainder of fiscal year 2026 is $14,795. Commissioner Anne Huffman has been designated as the liaison for the negotiation process.

Juneteenth and Boys and Girls Club Proclamations

The commission will also issue a Juneteenth Freedom Day proclamation for June 19, noting that Haines City was the first municipality in Polk County to designate Juneteenth as a paid city employee holiday, a distinction the city achieved in 2020 under then-Mayor Morris L. West. A separate proclamation recognizes Boys and Girls Club Week for June 23 through 27.

Budget Preview

At a June 9 budget workshop, department heads presented fiscal year 2027 capital requests totaling tens of millions of dollars. The largest single item was a joint Police and Fire request for a $20 million public safety complex, which the commission agreed to pursue. Other major requests included a $5.25 million downtown parking garage, $3.4 million in fire apparatus and vehicle replacements, and a $4.85 million water treatment plant storage tank. The City Clerk’s request for a $40,000 take-home vehicle was struck from the capital budget.

The June 18 meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Haines City Hall, 620 E. Main St.

Source: City of Haines City Commission Agenda and Budget Workshop Minutes, June 18, 2026, hainescity.com

The post Haines City Commission Tackles Infrastructure, New Subdivision, and City Clerk Contract at June 18 Meeting first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Citrus Tea Staff. The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

Polk County’s Water Future Is Already Under Pressure. Here Is What You Need to Know.

Across Polk County, the conversation about aging pipes and failing infrastructure is not just about what is underground today. It is about where the water comes from, how long it will last, and who is paying attention.

Where Polk County’s Water Comes From

Nearly every drop of drinking water in Polk County and across most of north and central Florida comes from the Upper Floridan Aquifer, a vast underground limestone formation that spans roughly 100,000 square miles beneath Florida and parts of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi. It is one of the most productive aquifers in the world and the primary drinking water source for nearly 10 million people.

In Polk County, every city and every unincorporated community depends on it. Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Haines City, Lake Wales, Auburndale, Fort Meade, Dundee, Davenport, and all 15 member governments of the Polk Regional Water Cooperative draw from the same source. Winter Haven alone pulls roughly 9.4 million gallons per day through 22 wells drilled approximately 800 feet into the ground, feeding nine water treatment plants that serve the city.

The problem is that the aquifer is not keeping up.

State water managers have determined that the Upper Floridan Aquifer in Polk County will reach its maximum sustainable withdrawal limit by the end of 2025. Polk County’s projected water demand is approximately 109 million gallons per day by 2040, but the aquifer’s sustainable yield is only 72 million gallons per day. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated the aquifer is projected to be unable to meet drinking water demand by 2035, with the strain already threatening the drinking water of an estimated 635,000 people across the region.

That is not a future warning. That deadline is now.

The 2026 Drought Made It Visible

In March 2026, the Southwest Florida Water Management District declared Phase III extreme water shortage restrictions across the region after recording a 13.7-inch regional rainfall deficit over the prior 12 months. It was the first Phase III declaration since May 2017. Restrictions limiting irrigation to once per week were set to remain in effect through July 1, 2026, across Polk County, including Winter Haven.

What Some Cities Are Doing About It

Fort Meade is already living with the consequences of delayed infrastructure investment. The city’s water lines, built in the 1950s and 1960s, are past their useful life. Its wastewater replacement costs, estimated at $15.6 million in 2021, have nearly doubled since. Funding remains unresolved.

On May 11, 2026, the Winter Haven City Commission approved a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the Reclaim Transmission Loop Project, a roughly three-mile expansion of the city’s reclaimed water distribution system. Total estimated construction cost is $4 million. The FDEP Alternative Water Supply and Restoration Program is providing $1.5 million of that with no required city match.

The project will extend a reclaimed water transmission main from the intersection of County Road 653 and Thompson Nursery Road to Cypress Gardens Boulevard. The goal is to reduce demand on the Floridan Aquifer by replacing groundwater with treated, reused water for irrigation, which currently accounts for an estimated 38 to 50 percent of the city’s total water pumping.

Water Department Director Gary Hubbard described the project as designed to interconnect and expand the city’s reclaimed water distribution system to maximize its beneficial use while reducing demands on the traditional water supply.

The Regional Picture

Winter Haven is a member of the Polk Regional Water Cooperative, a consortium of Polk County and its 15 municipal governments formed to develop alternative water sources. The cooperative is currently building two reverse osmosis wellfields tapping the deeper Lower Floridan Aquifer, one near Frostproof and one in Lakeland, with a combined capacity of roughly 22.5 million gallons per day. Total project cost is approximately $598 million, funded through a $305 million EPA WIFIA loan and a $293 million Southwest Florida Water Management District grant. The Southeast Wellfield near Frostproof alone will supply alternative water to 11 different Polk County municipalities when complete.

Separately, the EPA has invited Winter Haven to apply for a $178 million WIFIA loan for the city’s broader One Water program, a long-term plan developed with Black and Veatch that includes wetland restoration, aquifer recharge, and reuse expansion. That loan has not yet closed.

What This Means Locally

The challenges Fort Meade and Winter Haven face are not isolated. They are the same story, playing out at different speeds across every municipality in Polk County, and against a backdrop of a water supply that state regulators say is already at its limit.

The Citrus Tea will continue reporting on water infrastructure and supply across Polk County.

Sources

• Fort Meade City Commission Meeting, June 9, 2026, Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Briefing, presented by Evelyn Guffey, Director of Water and Wastewater, and City Manager Bell
• City of Winter Haven City Commission Meeting, May 11, 2026, agenda and approval of FDEP Grant Agreement, Reclaim Transmission Loop Project
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Alternative Water Supply and Restoration Program
• Southwest Florida Water Management District, Phase III Water Shortage Order, March 24, 2026
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WIFIA Loan Program, Polk Regional Water Cooperative project page
• Polk County Utilities, Water Conservation Services, polkfl.gov
• Polk Regional Water Cooperative, Water Supply Improvement Project, Carollo Engineers
• Southwest Florida Water Management District, Polk Regional Water Cooperative overview, WaterMatters.org
• U.S. Geological Survey, Floridan Aquifer System Groundwater Availability Study, fl.water.usgs.gov
• Mid Florida Newspapers, Four Corners Sun, “Big Changes Coming for Water Use and Development in Polk County,” May 4, 2025
• City of Winter Haven, Frequently Asked Questions, Water Supply, mywinterhaven.com
• Featured photo credit: Florida Aquifer Geology report presentation, September 2016

The post The Bigger Picture on Water Infrastructure and What It Means for Polk County first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Becky Mclachlan. The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

FORT MEADE, Fla. (June 9, 2026) — Fort Meade city commissioners heard a sobering assessment Monday night of the city’s aging water and wastewater systems, with staff warning that decades of deferred maintenance have pushed the infrastructure well past its useful life and into territory that threatens public safety.

Evelyn Guffey, the city’s Director of Water and Wastewater, and City Manager Bell told commissioners that Fort Meade’s water distribution system was built primarily between the 1950’s and 1960’s. It includes 54 miles of pipe ranging from 2 to 12 inches in diameter. The average lifespan for that type of infrastructure is roughly 60 years. Fort Meade’s system is well past it.

The city draws its water supply from three groundwater wells pulling from the upper Floridian Aquifer. Water moves into a 350,000-gallon ground storage tank, through transfer pumps, and up into a 300,000-gallon elevated tower before flowing out to homes, businesses, and institutions across the city. Both storage tanks were cleaned under contract with USG Water, work that was completed in March of 2026.

The distribution system itself, however, is a different story. Several fire hydrants either lack shutoff valves or have valves that no longer function, which affects the city’s ability to maintain the high-pressure water flow needed for fire protection. The city is rolling out new meters equipped with leak detection and excessive usage alerts. Staff noted, however, that underlying infrastructure must be repaired and rebuilt before line replacements can be fully effective.

A local resident told commissioners she had noticed a foul smell coming from her water for several weeks. Others in the audience nodded in agreement.

The water system replacement cost was estimated at approximately $8.5 million in 2021. Current costs are expected to be significantly higher.

The wastewater side carries an even heavier price tag. A 2021 asset management and fiscal sustainability plan, completed by FRWA, found that approximately 34.55% of the city’s 48 miles of wastewater pipe needed replacement. The 2021 estimate to replace the wastewater system was $15.6 million. Staff told commissioners that figure has nearly doubled in the years since, driven largely by the cost of additional treatment required for alternative water resources. Operational costs, including sludge hauling, aeration, chemicals, and electrical utilities, have also increased significantly. This could cost the City of Fort Meade an estimated $40 Million Dollars.

Staff implemented process changes after the 2021 plan to reduce risk, but said those changes are not a long-term substitute for physical repairs and capital investment.

The wastewater plant is a 1-million-gallon-per-day extended aeration facility providing secondary treatment with disinfection. Its permit renewal is currently in progress, a process that could bring additional compliance requirements and further costs.

City Manager Troy Bell was direct about the stakes.

“In order to maintain quality of life as it is now it’s going to take replacement,” Bell said.

He continued, “Without replacement we will continue to have leaks on both the water and sewer sides, along with poor [water/sewer] treatment, if we don’t invest in our system.”

Guffey echoed that message in her presentation’s closing remarks, stating her commitment to moving the city from reactive maintenance toward a proactive approach grounded in infrastructure investment and long-term planning.

“My goal is to position the City for future success by improving reliability, strengthening compliance, reducing emergency failures, and continuing to provide safe, dependable, and sustainable utility services to the residents and businesses of Fort Meade,” Guffey said.

Vice Mayor McCutchan acknowledged the challenge and pledged action, saying the commission will tap into available resources and create a plan to move the system forward.

Vice Mayor McCutchan acknowledged the challenge and pledged action, saying the commission will tap into available resources and create a plan to move the system forward.

McCutchan also raised a concern about timing. The potential elimination of property taxes at the state level, she said, could significantly limit the financial tools available to cities like Fort Meade, complicating the city’s ability to fund exactly the kind of long-term capital investment the system needs.

The city’s 2021 studies identified the challenges and laid out solutions. What is needed now, staff said, is a funding commitment from the commission, including rate evaluations and reserve building to cover both planned improvements and emergencies such as hurricane damage. Staff offered facility tours for those who want a firsthand look at the system.

Commissioners James Watts and Mayor Jaret Landon Williams were absent. Vice Mayor Petrina McCutchen presided.

The full presentation is available in the June 9, 2026, agenda packet on the City of Fort Meade’s website, pages 283-293.

The post Fort Meade’s Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Faces Critical Failures, with an estimated price tag of $40M first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Becky Mclachlan. The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

The amendment for Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes passed the Florida House 75 to 26 and the Florida Senate 30 to 9 on Tuesday. It will be on the November 3 ballot, where it needs 60 percent voter approval to take effect. Two Republicans crossed the aisle to vote no: Rep. Nathan Boyles of Baker County and Rep. Patt Maney of Shalimar. They were not the only voices raising concerns. Florida cities, counties, sheriff’s offices, fire departments, and several statewide associations have been warning for weeks about what passage would mean for local budgets. Some of those warnings came from leaders right here in Polk County.

Start with the numbers. A House staff analysis estimated the amended proposal would reduce annual revenue to non-school local governments by $4.6 billion at first, growing to $8.4 billion per year. Either way, the impact would not be spread evenly. Some cities rely on homestead property taxes for a much bigger share of their budget than others.

NBC Miami reported analysis showing Cooper City in Broward County could see a 35 percent budget cut, Tamarac a 33 percent cut, and Plantation a 23 percent cut. The Florida League of Cities cited an independent study finding 85 Florida cities would see essential services like police, road maintenance, and flood infrastructure put at risk. The cities named include New Port Richey, Largo, Gulfport, Coral Springs, Davie, and Key West.

For Polk County specifically, here is what local leaders have told WFLA-TV.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd issued a written statement that read, “In its current form, I fear the proposal will devastate counties’ and cities’ ability to deliver vital services, including emergency services, to our citizens.” His office’s roughly $300 million annual budget is funded largely by county property tax revenue.

Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell told WFLA the county is in a stronger financial position to absorb the cuts than smaller cities are. “I do think the county is in a much better position to deal with it than like cities are.” Bartow City Manager Mike Herr was more pointed. He said, “There comes a point where citizens have an expectation for exceptional service and we’re going to reach a point where we’re not going to be able to do that.”

The Florida Association of Counties, the statewide group representing all 67 counties, sent an email to all 160 members of the Legislature on May 29 asking them to vote against the proposal. Per Florida Phoenix, the email called the plan a “tax shift” and argued, “Decisions about how to fund local services work best when they are made close to the people who live with them.”

Jeff Scala, deputy director of the Florida Association of Counties, was more direct in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 1. Per Florida Phoenix, Scala told committee members, “It’s a historic shift. Cities could go bankrupt and counties could be forced to consolidate. Nobody’s modeled it.”

Concerns about renters surfaced during the Senate floor debate. Sen. LaVon Bracy, a Democrat from Orlando, said renters could be harmed if landlords pocket the property tax savings rather than passing them through in lower rent. That concern lines up with research from housing economists who have studied similar measures in other states.

A few open questions remain. How much money will the state trust fund contain to help local governments make up the gap, and where will that money come from? What services will count as “core” and protected, beyond public safety, education, infrastructure, and natural resources? And what happens in cities where homesteads make up more than half the total tax base, like Palmetto Bay in Miami-Dade, where Mayor Karyn Cunningham told the Miami Herald the cuts would “destroy” the village?

The vote in Tallahassee is over. The next vote, is yours. It’s the one that decides whether any of this becomes law, and it happens on November 3. Polk County residents who want to weigh in with their local officials before then can email their BOCC commissioners and city commissioners directly. Contact information is on the Polk County government website and on each city’s official site.

Sources: NBC Miami, Governing magazine, WFLA-TV, Florida Phoenix, Local 10 News, Spectrum News 13, Miami Herald, News4JAX, WGCU, WCTV, and CBS Miami reporting from May 27 to June 3, 2026; House staff analysis of HJR 1F (flhouse.gov).

The post No More Property Tax? Should we be concerned? first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Becky Mclachlan. The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

In Florida Property Tax Relief: What Voters Will Decide in November, we walked through what the property tax amendment headed to the November 3 ballot would actually do. Now we look at why supporters say it should pass.

Governor DeSantis has been pushing this idea for over a year. In the past week he has been on Fox News, on his social media, and at events from Tampa to Pasco County. The argument he and other backers are making rests on a handful of points worth understanding in their own words.

Start with the size of the bill. In his May 27 announcement, DeSantis said the total amount of property taxes collected by Florida cities and counties has nearly doubled over the past seven years, from $32 billion to $60 billion. His office expects it to hit $83 billion by 2032 if nothing changes. He blames part of that on local governments raising rates and on home values rising.

If approved, once the homestead exemption reaches $250,000 in 2028, the Governor says about 60 percent of Florida homeowners with a homestead would owe zero county or city property tax. He has hinted at raising the exemption even higher, possibly to $500,000. According to Bloomberg and Fox 29, at $500,000 about 92 percent of Florida homesteaders would pay zero non-school property tax.

The plan does not change how vacation homes, rental properties, second homes, or commercial real estate are taxed, beyond dropping the annual value-increase cap from 10 percent to 5 percent. DeSantis put it bluntly on May 27. “If some billionaire from Brazil is buying something, tax them. I’m looking out for Floridians.” A regular Floridian’s primary home gets the break, and a beach house owned by a wealthy out-of-state buyer does not.

Newcomers will face a five-year waiting period. DeSantis told reporters in Brevard County, per the Florida Phoenix, that he does not want “every Tom, Dick, and Harry from out of state moving and rushing to buy a home here because they get a tax benefit.” Anyone who establishes Florida residency after January 1, 2027 has to live here for up to five years before they can claim the bigger exemption.

The bill’s Senate sponsor, Republican Bryan Avila of Hialeah, defended the design during floor debate Tuesday. According to WCTV, Avila said the bill does not stop local governments from charging “any sort of special assessment or fee” to make up for lost revenue. “The natural inclination of local governments should be to look at their spending,” he said.

Senate President Ben Albritton sent senators a memo on May 27 supporting the plan. Per Click Orlando, Albritton wrote, “I can’t think of a more meaningful way to celebrate America’s 250 than the passage of $250,000 in tax relief for every Florida homeowner.” House Speaker Daniel Perez was drier. Per NBC Miami, Perez said, “We are pleased the Governor has finally gotten around to share an actual proposal.”

Support was not strictly along party lines. Three Democratic senators voted yes: Mack Bernard of West Palm Beach, Daryl Rouson of St. Petersburg, and Barbara Sharief of Miramar. Leon County Commission Chairman Christian Caban, also a Democrat, told WCTV he could accept the trade-off. “It might be a hit on our budget for property taxes and our general revenue. However, that’s money going right back into taxpayers’ hands, and we’re not even going to take it in the first place.”

The bluntest argument came from State Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia. Per Yahoo News, Ingoglia said, “Taxpayers are sick and tired of their local governments taxing and spending, crying poor, saying they don’t have the money and then come back to you as an endless ATM asking for more, more, more.”

The Governor’s office set up a website with a tax calculator. You can plug in your Polk County address and see what you would have saved on your 2025 tax bill if the plan had been in place.

In our next article, The Other Side of the Property Tax Vote: What Local Leaders Are Warning About, we look at what local leaders here in Polk County are saying about how this amendment could affect city and county budgets if voters approve it.

Sources: Office of the Governor of Florida press release dated May 27, 2026 (flgov.com); Click Orlando, NBC Miami, WCTV, CBS Miami, Florida Phoenix, and Yahoo News reporting from May 27 to June 3, 2026; Bloomberg and Fox 29 reporting summarized by Moneywise dated May 30, 2026.

The post Why Some Florida Leaders Are Backing the Property Tax Plan first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Citrus Tea Staff. The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

The Florida Legislature voted yesterday to put a sweeping property tax cut on the November ballot. The House passed it 75 to 26. The Senate passed it 30 to 9. Now the question moves out of Tallahassee and into your hands.

If you have been anywhere near a TV or a coffee shop this past week, you have heard most of the talking points already. Governor Ron DeSantis has been everywhere making the case. Local government leaders and sheriff’s offices have been raising concerns. But almost nobody on either side has walked through what the plan actually does. That is what this piece is for.

Before we get into it, here is where The Citrus Tea stands. We are not taking a side on this one. The point of this three-part series is to lay out what the plan does, what supporters are saying, and what local leaders right here in Polk County are worried about. The vote is yours. We just want you walking into it knowing the facts.

In Florida today, if you own a home and you actually live in it, you can claim a homestead exemption. You have to apply by the end of March to be eligible the following tax year. The exemption is the chunk of your home’s value the government does not tax. Today, the exemption is $50,000. So if your home is assessed at $250,000, you pay property tax on $200,000 of that value.

The Governor’s plan, called Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes, raises that exemption a lot, but in steps. If voters say yes on the November ballot, here is what would go into effect:

Starting January 1, 2027, the exemption jumps from $50,000 to $150,000. Starting January 1, 2028, it jumps again to $250,000. After that, the Legislature would be required to keep raising it, with the eventual goal of eliminating homestead property taxes entirely. In practical terms, if your home is worth $250,000 or less, you would owe zero county or city property tax by 2028. If your home is worth more, you would only pay tax on the part above the exemption.

Schools are protected, but that was a late addition. The Governor’s original draft tried to cover school taxes too. Lawmakers in both chambers carved them out before the final vote. Even if you owe nothing for county or city property tax someday, you would still pay the part of your bill that funds public schools.

Vacation homes, rental properties, second homes, and businesses are not part of the break. Those properties keep their current property taxes owed, with one tweak. The maximum amount their assessed value can rise each year for tax purposes drops from 10 percent to 5 percent starting next year.

There is a five-year waiting period built in for newcomers. The Governor said this was to “keep out-of-state buyers from rushing in to claim the tax break.” Anyone who establishes Florida residency after January 1, 2027, has to live here for up to five years before they qualify for the bigger exemption.

There is also a list of what local governments can spend remaining property tax money on, and this is where local leaders are most concerned. The proposal limits use to public safety, education, infrastructure, including stormwater management, and natural resources. Right now, your county and city property taxes help fund the sheriff’s office, fire departments, parks, libraries, mosquito control, animal services, and a long list of other local programs. Under the new rules, anything outside the core list would have to be funded by another source. The plan creates a new state trust fund to help cities and counties replace some of the lost revenue. The Governor’s office has not yet said how big that fund will be or where the money will come from.

For all of this to actually take effect, the amendment has to clear one more hurdle. At least 60 percent of Florida voters have to vote yes on November 3. If it falls short of 60 percent, the plan dies, and the current $50,000 homestead exemption stays in place. Local budgets will remain untouched by the plan.

In Why Some Florida Leaders Are Backing the Property Tax Plan, we lay out the case supporters are making for it, in their own words. After that, we look at what local leaders, including officials right here in Polk County, are saying about the budget impact.

Sources: Florida Senate bill history for SJR 2-F and Florida House bill history for HJR 1F (flsenate.gov, flhouse.gov); Office of the Governor of Florida press release dated May 27, 2026 (flgov.com); Click Orlando, Fox 35 Orlando, WCTV, CBS Miami, First Coast News, and Florida Phoenix reporting from June 1 to June 3, 2026.

The post Florida Property Tax Relief: What Voters Will Decide on the November Ballot first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Citrus Tea Staff. The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com