Complete coverage of Florida's tax changes

Florida government offers $571 million in loans to build, buy housing

Trying to take the offensive in an economic crisis, Gov. Charlie Crist signed an executive order Thursday freeing $571 million in state-backed financing that real estate developers and reluctant buyers can tap to build and buy new homes.

Broward County Commission trims individual property taxes by $100

The average homeowner will receive a tax break of almost $100 from Broward County government this fall, but the savings will come at the expense of libraries, parks and mass transit.

Hollywood to cut property tax rates and outsource sanitation services

Rejecting drastic measures for a dire budget year, city officials have agreed to slash property tax rates and try to fill a $14 million gap by, in part, outsourcing the sanitation department.

Lauderdale Lakes' property tax rate is up, but owners should still save

The city has eliminated more than 20 vacant positions and laid off two workers to prepare for its new budget year. A higher property tax rate is proposed, but City Finance Director Larry Tibbs said many property owners would see a savings. Commissioners may consider using reserve funds to increase park hours and host special events.

Property tax rules baffle Florida homeowners

Michael McKenna was baffled by his property tax assessment this year.

Boynton Beach to use fire fee to replace lost property tax revenue

Commissioners Tuesday extended a fire fee that was meant to expire this month and will bring in $3.4 million during a time when the city has been dealt a financial blow.

Hollywood passes property tax rate increase to eliminate budget shortfall

City officials on Monday passed on first reading a proposal that would raise the property tax rates slightly to avoid a $14 million budget shortfall and mass layoffs.

Florida Legislature to re-examine property tax relief again

Florida's property tax wars now return to the state Legislature, a place where gridlock and battling interest groups make it difficult to achieve the deep relief that politicians promise.

Florida Supreme Court strikes down Amendment 5 tax swap plan

The state Supreme Court today removed a multi-billion tax swap plan from the November ballot, just hours after a majority of justices argued forcefully during courtroom arguments that the voter summary for Amendment 5 was misleading about its potential implications for school funding.

Broward property appraiser says Web site has clearer explanation of exemption

With tax appraisal notices hitting mailboxes across Broward County, property owners are getting confused about whether they are receiving the extra tax breaks approved in January.

Tax swap language on ballot ruled by judge to be misleading

A state judge's ruling striking the so-called tax swap from the Nov. 4 ballot is a beginning, rather than an end, to a high-stakes, time-crunched legal battle to determine whether the plan is put before voters.

Some property tax bills in Broward County may increase despite lower values

A little-known quirk in Florida law will mean more than 380,000 homeowners in Broward County will see their property tax assessments go up — not down — this year.

House pushes referendum on slashing property taxes 30%

The Florida House is poised today to approve a tax cut package that would slice an average property owner's bill in Broward and Palm Beach counties by more than 30 percent, in a bid to place unprecedented restrictions on local taxation.

Rule may offset property tax relief in Florida

Homeowners expecting to pocket an average $240 property tax savings this year might be in for an unwelcome surprise: their tax bills could be cut by a lot less, or might even inch up.

Broward Sheriff's Office faces major budget cuts

At least half the $94 million in spending cuts Broward County government anticipates next year would come from regional law enforcement and South Florida's jail system.

Homeowners waffle on property tax amendment

Elizabeth Hays runs through which way to vote on the state's effort at property tax reform. She pingpongs from pro to con, to pro, to con.

Magic Johnson store in Lauderdale Lakes, opened with hope, a victim of downturn

Crist stumps in Broward County for tax relief referendum

Floridians will have a simple but important choice to make in less than two weeks, Gov. Charlie Crist told a crowd of about 1,000 seniors who gathered to hear him speak about the proposed property tax amendment in Coconut Creek on Thursday.

Panel puts tax break for energy, hurricane improvements on ballot

Homeowners would get a small property tax break for energy efficiency and hurricane protection improvements if voters adopt a proposed state constitutional amendment approved Friday for the November ballot.

Will Amendment 1 change Save Our Homes protections?

Confusion is swirling around the upcoming vote on property tax relief over whether the proposal would end the state's coveted Save Our Homes exemption.

Broward says services will suffer if voters OK property tax relief

As they try to convince voters that the Jan. 29 tax proposal will gravely harm public services, local officials are working to explain the massive growth in government during the real estate boom years.

House Speaker Rubio supports more dramatic property tax-cut proposal

House Speaker Marco Rubio has thrown his support behind a far more dramatic property tax-cut proposal than the plan the Legislature has placed on the January ballot.

Panel may offer voters more property tax relief

A state commission Thursday began batting around ideas for giving taxpayers more property tax relief than they'll get even if voters approve a ballot proposal the Legislature passed three days earlier.

Gov. Crist to 'campaign like the dickens' for tax-relief plan

Gov. Charlie Crist today pledged to put his popularity on the line by campaigning hard for a new constitutional amendment to cut property taxes, making stops around Florida to tout a package that goes before voters Jan. 29.

Legislature's tax-relief plan to go on Jan. 29 ballot

It's now up to Florida voters to say whether the state Legislature has given them the property tax relief they want.

House votes to accept Senate's property tax relief package

The Florida Legislature passed a trimmed down property tax relief package on Monday that promises the average homeowner a $220 break, putting a constitutional amendment on the Jan. 29 statewide ballot.

State Senate to toss tax-relief ball back to House on session's last day

The Florida Senate is poised today to approve a trimmed down tax relief package that doubles the $25,000 homestead exemption and protects Save Our Homes, and then send it to the House with a simple message: Take it or leave it.

With deadline near, legislators close in on deal to cut property taxes

With a Monday deadline looming, state legislators said Saturday they were closing in on a deal to cut property taxes, but that key issues still must be settled and big uncertainties remain about the exact savings to be reaped.

Deal on property tax cuts may come down to two Republican legislators

Whether Floridians get a break on their property taxes — and how much — may hinge on two very different Republicans.

Senate announces return to Tallahassee to craft property tax deal

Prospects of a property tax deal coming together in the next few days appeared to improve slightly Friday with an announcement that the Senate will return to Tallahassee on Monday to attempt to craft a deal with the House.

Property tax talks static, taxpayers impatient as deadline nears

Linda Vercillo doesn't particularly care whether lawmakers pass the House plan, the Senate plan or some other plan, but Thursday she said she just wants them to do something about property tax relief -- and soon.

Florida legislators shelve property tax showdown till Monday

How much property tax relief Floridians will get, if any, may now hinge on a game of legislative chicken.

Lobbyists rare sight at state Capitol for special session

Local governments and their lobbyists, once a loud and well-organized adversary to legislators who wanted to slash their revenues to lower Floridians' tax bills, are now trying a new tactic: private conversations with lawmakers and a muted presence at the Capitol.

Weston mayor says he has no regrets about blocking tax proposal

Weston Mayor Eric Hersh hated the Legislature's last property tax proposal enough to sue.

Poll: Support for property tax amendment falling short

Amid doubts over whether the Legislature will finalize a property tax package, a new poll finds that a possible constitutional amendment imposing cuts like what lawmakers are considering will still face a hurdle getting approved by voters.

Clock is ticking on tax cut plan, but Florida senators are out of town

Time and patience could be running out for a legislative compromise to lower Floridians' property taxes.

Property tax clock may work against House's 'better mousetrap'

House members think they have built a ``better mousetrap,'' but time may be on the Senate's side in a showdown over property tax relief.

Florida House resuming property tax debate

Senate President Ken Pruitt advised his stay-at-home members Monday they may not need to return to the Florida Capitol depending on what the House does this week on property tax relief.

Highlights of House and Senate tax-cut proposals

Major components of House plan:

House members offer new property tax plan

Florida House leaders floated yet another property tax plan Friday, offering resident homeowners sharply higher tax breaks and providing a tax cap for businesses and second homes.

Lawmakers agree to tackle retooled property tax plan

Florida's legislative leaders on Wednesday agreed to tackle a retooled package of property tax cuts that would save the average homeowner about $200 a year.

Gov. Crist revives earlier plan on cutting property taxes

Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday released a retooled $6.3 billion package of property-tax cuts he said he may ask Florida legislators to vote on next week.

Crist wants to add property tax relief to session

Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday he wants to extend the current special legislative session through the weekend to try to come up with a new property tax relief plan.

Property tax solutions explored; Gov. Crist backs portability option

Carolyn Gray has been trapped for two years in her home because she can't sell it.

Florida Republican leaders drop effort to phase out property tax limits

Save Our Homes, it appears, is safe.

Florida appeals to keep homestead referendum on ballot

The state went to court on Wednesday to keep an expansion of Florida's homestead exemption on the Jan. 29 ballot.

State may decide today whether to appeal 'super size' ruling

Rewrite it, appeal it; or do both.

Plan to cut taxes hinges on November ballot

If the $8 billion-a-year tax plan thrown out by a state judge stays off the November ballot, supporters of the so-called tax swap could lose a prime, rare opportunity to fundamentally change the way Floridians pay taxes.