Nonpartisan, government watchdog and taxpayer group, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its 2024 Florida Tax & Bond Referenda.
It found in the 2023 and 2024 elections, voters in 24 Florida counties approved another 31 county-wide sales and property tax increases or extensions worth $1.9 billion annually. Voters also approved 18 bond issues totaling nearly one billion dollars. These bonds will largely be paid off with property taxes.
Florida TaxWatch has been compiling local tax and bond referendum results since 2010, detailing the 177 tax referenda worth $7.0 billion and the 80 bond issues worth $7.4 billion approved by voters. After the 2023-2024 election cycle, the totals now stand at 215 tax increases or extensions ($8.9 billion) and 98 bond issues ($8.4 billion).
“Examining the trend of Florida voters approving tax increases at the local level, Florida voters have been quite receptive to local tax increases, having voted to increase their own taxes 177 times between 2010 and 2022, 2023 and this trend continued through the 2024 General Election,’ said the report.
Only three county-wide sales and property tax referenda and three bond issues were voted down. These referendums had a success rate of 89 percent. In addition, three counties voted to increase their Tourist Development Tax levies ($9.4 million) and voters in four special districts increased their taxes or special assessments.
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said, “At the state level, taxpayers in Florida have enjoyed tax cuts passed by the Legislature in every year since 2009. This includes record tax relief packages in recent years, made possible by large windfall revenues. However, local taxes–especially property taxes—are rising. Moreover, Florida will continue to rely heavily on cities, counties, school districts, and special districts to fund the cost of government. This is not a bad thing. Taxes are best levied closest to those paying them, especially if those being taxed have a say in their imposition.”
Referendums proposing local option sales taxes and ad valorem (property tax) levies for schools are generally required by state law. Local governments also occasionally let the voters decide on property taxes for other issues, including conservation and environmental land purchases, children’s services, libraries, cultural and historic projects, and even mosquito control and animal services. The report addresses the following taxes and bond issues:
Local Options Sales Taxes – In 2024, Florida voters passed 16 sales tax referenda, worth $1.2 billion. Since 2010, 89 sales tax referenda, worth $4.7 billion in annual tax revenue, have been approved.
School Property Taxes – In 2024, Florida voters passed 13 property tax referenda, worth $632 million in annual tax revenue. Since 2010, 122 property tax referenda, worth $4.2 billion in annual tax revenue, have been approved.
Bond Issues – In 2024, Florida voters approved 18 bond referenda, worth $934 million, most of which will be paid back using property taxes. Since 2010, 98 bond issues worth $8.4 billion have been approved.
Other Taxes FTW said took place were local Tourist Development Tax (TDT) and property tax or special assessment increases and Economic Development Property Tax Exemptions were voters giving local county commissions and municipal governing bodies the authority to grant property tax exemptions to new and expanding businesses.
