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Studio 67What's At Stake
In Florida, essential services—like first responders, clean water, emergency management, and trash pickup—just work. On time, on budget, ready to roll.
It isn’t a coincidence. In the Sunshine State, most of our critical services are funded locally—so most of our tax dollars are spent close to home. That’s the Florida way, the right way—and it’s working.
of counties have not increased their millage rates in the past 5 years.
of cities have not increased their millage rates in the past 5 years.
See All the Facts
Everything you need to know, fast
Want the facts at your fingertips? Download the one-page snapshot that puts all the key stats, stories, and takeaways in one place. It’s the perfect cheat sheet for understanding how local services keep Florida running strong.
How Property Taxes Work in Florida
Local Control Keeps Florida's Communities Strong
A millage rate is the amount of tax per $1,000 of taxable property value. For example, a millage rate of 5.2 means you pay $5.20 in taxes for every $1,000 of your property’s taxable value.
Millage rates are set annually by local taxing authorities, such as county commissions, city councils, school boards, and special districts. These rates are determined based on budgetary needs and are subject to public hearings and state oversight.
Several factors influence your property tax bill:
- Assessed Value: Determined by the county property appraiser, based on the market value of your property.
- Exemptions: Homestead and other exemptions can reduce your taxable value.
- Millage Rates: Set by local taxing authorities.
- Assessment Caps: For homestead properties, the “Save Our Homes” cap limits annual increases in assessed value to 3% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.
Property taxes are a primary source of funding for essential local services, including:
- Emergency Management
- Police and fire departments
- Road maintenance
- Parks and recreation
- Libraries
- Public health services
You may reduce your property tax liability by:
- Applying for exemptions, like the homestead, senior citizen, or disability exemptions.
- Reviewing your property’s assessed value and appealing if it’s inaccurate.
- Staying informed about local budget decisions and participating in public hearings.
Keeping Taxes Low and Budgets Balanced
ensurING counties meet unique community needs.
While costs have risen across the board—from fuel to labor—most Florida counties have kept tax rates steady or even lowered them.
Protections like the “Save Our Homes” amendment, that shield the primary residences of full-time Floridians from excessive property tax increases caused by rising property values, help families keep up, even when the market heats up.
If the goal is to make Florida more affordable, the focus should be on what’s actually driving costs higher: rising insurance premiums—not the basic services that communities rely on every day.
View Your County's Budget
Use the interactive map to explore how each of Florida’s 67 counties invests public resources—providing a clear view into local budgets, services, and the essential work counties do every day to support their communities.
Property Tax Truths, Vs. Myths
Myth
Eliminating property taxes will lower costs for everyday Floridians.
The Florida Formula
Florida’s success story isn’t luck—it’s a result of practical choices: no state income tax, low overall taxes, and solutions shaped at the local level. What makes it all work: property taxes managed close to home that fund everyday services communities rely on.
Proposals to eliminate that structure don’t reduce costs—they just shift them somewhere else, often with less transparency and less control for the people who live here.
Social Media Posts
Quick, credible posts for your county’s feed
Help your community understand what’s at stake. This page features ready-to-use content you can share on your county’s social media channels.
These messages are designed to cut through the noise and keep the focus where it belongs: on your residents.
Resource Library
Get the Data You Need
Presented by the Florida Association of Counties, this initiative helps Floridians understand what’s at stake when it comes to local decision-making, public services, and the everyday systems that keep our communities strong. It’s about protecting what works, preserving what matters, and ensuring Florida remains a place where freedom and local decision-making go hand in hand.