Teachers union on property tax plan: ‘The stakes for public education are enormous’

Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposal to increase the homestead property tax exemption, warning it would jeopardize school funding. The plan, which would exempt $150,000 of a homestead's value from taxes in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, could reduce local revenue critical for schools, which rely on 46% of the Florida Education Finance Program from local funding. DeSantis proposed a trust fund to offset the impact, but the Florida House's similar amendment failed to advance in the Senate.