Florida Republicans want to lower the state tax, Gov. DeSantis doesn’t: “Dead on arrival”
Florida – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said on Wednesday he would reject any plan lowering the state sales-tax rate, a decision that could disrupt Florida’s budget negotiations. Speaking at a recent event, DeSantis said that only the property tax cuts deserves attention and presented the discussion as a decision between residents’ relief and visitors’ savings.
“I look forward to working with the Senate and relevant House members to have a good Florida-first tax package,” DeSantis said during an appearance this week. “But I can tell you, any Florida-last tax package is going to be dead on arrival. We are not going to kneecap our ability to provide you property-tax relief just so we can give a little bit of a benefit to Canadian tourists.”
The governor’s veto threat comes during a public feud with Republican House Speaker Daniel Perez. Though negotiators hope that number to drop to about $2.8 billion after specifics are worked out, the House’s version of the budget calls for reducing the sales-tax rate from 6 percent to 5.25 percent, a move expected to bring back about $5 billion to the economy over ten years. DeSantis, on the other hand, rejected the sales-tax reduction as an unwanted gift that “nobody is asking for” and cautioned it would “effectively kill any opportunity to do property-tax reform.”
Perez shot back quickly, accusing the governor with providing just an “imaginary plan” to lower property taxes. The speaker, in a written statement, questioned DeSantis on his lack of clear ideas given that months had gone without any meaningful blueprint for permanent property tax reductions.
“I give the governor credit for starting this debate, but he’s had months to produce an actual plan to lower property-tax rates, and we’re still waiting. An imaginary plan can’t cut real taxes,” Perez said in a statement. He added that the House’s sales-tax measure could coexist with plans to ask voters in 2026 to approve lower local levies—a possibility DeSantis insists is incompatible with his vision.
Lawmakers could not adjourn on Friday as planned since the legislative session was stalled, hence the state lacks a finalized budget. Assuming both chambers can agree on general expenditure “allocations” for sectors including education and healthcare, they are scheduled to meet again next week. From then, conference committees will work out the details. A competing package in the Senate avoids an across-the-board sales-tax reduction in favor of focused exclusions—such on apparel and shoes under $75—and periodic tax-free holiday times.
Standing next to DeSantis in Tampa were Senators Jay Collins and Blaise Ingoglia, both of whom have fought for permanent property-tax cuts. Perez, on the other hand, has called a House select committee to look at long-term strategies for reducing local levies and being ready for a potential 2026 ballot question. DeSantis joked that the committee’s efforts ran the risk of turning into a “dog and pony show” even as Perez described the governor’s more general objectives as “exciting” but lacking in specifics.
Floridians wait clear on which taxes could finally decrease and which could remain as the dispute goes on. Whether legislators can close the gap between a governor determined to shore up homeowners’ finances and a legislature anxious to provide general assistance to all who shop in the Sunshine State will determine the way ahead.
