Florida Voters Approve Sweeping Property-Tax Cuts -- WSJ

By Arian Campo-Flores

Florida voters approved the most consequential overhaul of a state property-tax system in the country, sharply reducing the tax bill for many homeowners while slashing the funding stream for local governments.

The constitutional amendment-which the Associated Press called as vote tallies showed a roughly 62%-38% margin of support, above Florida's 60% approval threshold-was the most closely watched ballot measure in Florida. Rising home prices and other costs have fueled an affordability crunch.

The Florida measure is part of the biggest nationwide property-tax revolt since the 1970s as voters in several other states also decide whether to roll back or restrain the housing-related taxes.

The Florida amendment goes into effect Jan. 1 and poses a big challenge for local governments that rely on property taxes to fund services such as fire rescue and road maintenance. Many were already paring spending in preparation and now face potential cuts in property-tax revenue of nearly $5 billion statewide in the 2027-28 fiscal year, according to one analysis.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who championed the amendment, has said it would provide direct relief to homeowners and prevent local governments from undertaking wasteful spending on nonessential functions.

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November 03, 2026 22:15 ET (03:15 GMT)