Tax increases have been a line in the sand between Republicans and Democrats over their party platforms. The GOP has held the mantra, “less taxes” and the Democratic Party has never seen a tax increase they have ever disagreed with.
But an interesting dynamic in Florida politics has been occurring over the last few years on how local political parties have approached the issue of higher taxes at the ballot box or by elected officials.
Over the last few years, Florida Daily has documented the shift local Republican voters and Republican officials have made when it comes to supporting higher taxes compared to more liberal counties where Democrats have been opposing them.
RED COUNTIES RAISING TAXES
Since 2020 there has been a larger number of conservative run red counties raising higher taxes in the state.
In the panhandle Escambia County, former president received 56 percent of the vote. But Escambia voters supported raising their property taxes by more than 60 percent voting to create a new government agency overseeing nonprofit organizations and foundations.
In Northeast Florida, Nassau County voters overwhelmingly voted for Gov. Ron DeSantis but also supported a property tax hike for public schools.
Duval County, where there is more Republican city council members than Democrats who have supported raising the gas, sales and property taxes over the last 3 and a half years.
On the Gulf Coast, GOP-controlled Pasco County supported DeSantis in 2022 and the entire roster of state Republicans. But two-thirds of Pasco voters voted to renew the district’s one percent sales tax.
On the east coast in Brevard County. The county commission is Republican and the constitutional officers all republicans, yet voters approved increasing the school mileage rates with 58 percent of the vote.
Columbia County in the northern part of the state, the GOP number outweigh registered democrats but that county voters supported a school capital outlay surtax.
Part of the Treasure Coast, Martin County, a secure area for Republicans, saw voters approve an extension for a special millage tax for schools.
DEMOCRAT RUN COUNTIES
With a growing number of Republican areas voting in favor of tax increases, more counties with Democrat voters and elected officials opposing new tax hikes.
“Blue” Hillsborough County, voted down a one-cent transportation sales tax.
Orange County, one of the most liberal counties in the state, 54% of voters voted down raising a transportation sales tax.
Another Blue County, Miami Dade, the Democrat Mayor Daniella Levine Cava proposed a property tax cut that was approved by the commission for the 2024 budget.
In Palm Beach County, the Democrat-run county commission just told taxpayers that a renewal to extending a penny sales tax for another 10 years wasn’t going to happen.
Over the decade, the tax increase brought in $2.7 billion to the county.
Does this mean democrats have seen the light on higher taxes?
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