Florida State Republican Rep. Ryan Chamberlin is advocating abolishing property taxes in Florida and replacing them with sales taxes.
Chamberlin of Belleview filed a bill that, if enacted, tasks the Office of Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, the Legislature’s research agency, with studying the feasibility of his plan.
The study would be completed in a year if the bill passes.
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“This is the beginning step,” Chamberlin told The Center Square. “It may take a few years. We’re going to come back and put some serious meat on it in its next phase.”
Under the Florida Constitution, levying property taxes is a sole function of local governments: counties, municipalities, school districts, and special districts.
The outlet reported that those taxes raised $25 billion throughout the state.
“We’re bringing all the data to the table,” Chamberlain told the outlet. “It’s step one of the plan. We’re not trying to do away with the funding. We’re just trying to do it a smarter way.”
Chamberlain argued that under Florida’s current system, property owners really don’t own the property they must pay for, which can increase based on factors such as inflation and housing demand.
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“We never own our property and we are paying taxes on unrealized gains,” Chamberlin said. “If you buy a piece of property for $100,000 and the property appraiser says it’s now worth a million, even though you’ve never sold it or put that $900,000 in the bank, you are paying taxes on it annually.”
“A consumption tax seems to be the fairest tax,” Chamberlin added.
“It takes into consideration all the people who travel to Florida and purchase things. It seems to be a solution, but I am not opposed to some other creative ideas. I think it’s time to do it.”
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