Miami Beach Democrats Oppose Florida Property Tax Amendment

The Miami Beach Democratic Club has officially adopted a resolution opposing the proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes in Florida.

Approved by both the Board of Directors and the Club's membership, the resolution reflects the Club's belief that eliminating one of the primary sources of funding for local governments—without a fiscally responsible, equitable, and sustainable replacement—would have serious consequences for public schools, public safety, infrastructure, climate resilience, affordable housing, and other essential community services.

This resolution is not an opposition to responsible tax reform. Property taxes are a legitimate subject of public debate, and Floridians deserve thoughtful conversations about affordability and the cost of homeownership. Rather, the Club believes any reforms must preserve the ability of local governments to fund the services residents rely on every day and maintain local control over community priorities.

The following explains why the Miami Beach Democratic Club adopted this resolution and why we believe this proposal deserves careful consideration by Florida voters and local elected officials.

Property Taxes Fund Essential Local Services

Unlike state taxes, property taxes are collected locally and provide the financial foundation for many of the services residents rely upon every day.

These revenues help fund:

• Public schools and educational facilities

• Police, fire rescue, and emergency medical services

• Parks, libraries, and recreational programs

• Roads, bridges, sidewalks, and transportation improvements

• Stormwater management and flood mitigation

• Sea-level rise adaptation and climate resilience projects

• Affordable housing initiatives

• Emergency preparedness and disaster response

• General municipal operations that keep our communities functioning

For cities like Miami Beach, these investments are especially critical. As a coastal community, Miami Beach faces ongoing challenges related to sea-level rise, tidal flooding, aging infrastructure, hurricane preparedness, and resilience. Stable local revenue allows our city to address these challenges while continuing to provide high-quality public services.

Why the Proposal Raises Concerns

Governor Ron DeSantis has advocated for significant reductions in Florida's property taxes, and the Florida Legislature has advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that would substantially reduce local property tax revenues through expanded homestead exemptions if approved by voters. State and local officials have warned that the proposal could reduce local government revenues by billions of dollars over the coming years, forcing many communities to reduce services, delay infrastructure projects, freeze hiring, or seek alternative revenue sources.

Supporters argue that homeowners deserve meaningful tax relief. That is an important conversation.

The question, however, is how Florida will continue to fund essential services if one of local government's largest revenue sources is dramatically reduced or eliminated.

Without a clearly identified replacement funding source, communities could face difficult choices, including:

• Reductions in public services

• Delayed infrastructure improvements

• Increased reliance on user fees or sales taxes

• Greater dependence on state appropriations

• Reduced local control over budgeting priorities

Rather than eliminating the cost of government, the proposal could simply shift those costs elsewhere or reduce the services residents expect from their local governments.

Local Control Matters

One of the Club's greatest concerns is the potential erosion of local control.

Cities and counties understand the unique needs of their communities. Miami Beach's priorities are not identical to those of inland or rural communities. Local governments should retain the ability to fund local priorities and respond to local challenges.

If local revenues are substantially reduced, municipalities may become increasingly dependent upon funding decisions made in Tallahassee, limiting their ability to respond to community needs and emergencies.

Calling on Local Leaders

The proposed resolution does more than express opposition.

It calls upon the Mayor and City Commission of Miami Beach to publicly oppose the proposed constitutional amendment by adopting their own resolution urging Florida voters to reject the referendum.

The resolution also encourages the City to investigate all available legal, legislative, and administrative avenues to oppose the proposal and protect stable funding for essential municipal services.

Finally, it encourages municipalities, counties, school boards, and local governments throughout Florida to adopt similar resolutions in support of reliable funding for public education and local government services.

Member Vote

The Board of Directors has approved this resolution for consideration by the membership in accordance with the Club's bylaws.

Voting members will consider the resolution at the Club's July membership meeting.

We encourage all members to review the proposed resolution and participate in the discussion. Whether attending in person or via Zoom, your voice is an important part of the democratic process that guides our organization.

The Miami Beach Democratic Club remains committed to advocating for fiscally responsible public policy that protects public education, supports local governments, preserves local decision-making, and ensures that Florida's communities have the resources they need to remain safe, resilient, and prosperous.