Priming the pump on property taxes
Good morning and welcome to Thursday.
Gov. RON DESANTIS and the Republican Party of Florida are priming the electorate early on the issue of property taxes.
Having toughened restrictions on citizen-led ballot efforts, the governor and fellow Republicans are doing everything they can to build success for a yet-to-be-agreed-upon property tax cut initiative.
While DeSantis is feuding with state House Speaker DANIEL PEREZ over what direction to go on lowering the tax, he's also floating the idea to voters through his many public appearances — in which he often brings up property taxes no matter what the announced topic of the day is.
He and other proponents of cutting property taxes say local governments' budgets have swelled in recent years as property values have gone up.
'We are headed into a property tax revolt,' state Sen. BLAISE INGOGLIA (R-Spring Hill) said about the issue during a roundtable in Tampa on Wednesday.
DeSantis is using the megaphone of his office before any major outside force has created opposition around the issue. Plenty of concerns voiced by members of both parties surround the idea of reducing or outright killing property taxes: What would it do to school budgets? How would cities and counties pay for public safety? Would they just raise sales taxes?
But as of now, there isn't a voice bigger than the governor's telling voters to start thinking about the ramifications. Though no other state has successfully abolished the tax amid opposition from teachers' unions and business groups, DeSantis is getting a head start on messaging.
On top of that, the Republican Party of Florida has been taking up the governor's cause, running with the idea that the 2026 election will put some type of proposal to reduce property taxes before voters, even though it's still unclear what exactly that will look like. (Perez has said he agrees they should be lowered but tasked members to study it and come up with a detailed plan.)
'The governor used the bully pulpit that he has to really highlight the issue,' said EVAN POWER, Republican Party of Florida chair. 'That makes people think about it a little bit more.'
RPOF is boosting messaging around property taxes with its own campaign called the 'Rollback Rate.' Florida Republicans want their volunteers to pressure city and county commissioners to adopt the 'rollback rate,' meaning the rate that would generate the same revenue as the previous year (new construction not included) and keep homeowners' tax bill the same even if their property values have risen. RPOF already sent out fundraising emails about the push this week.
Power said the goal is for the party to be able to say it delivered on lower property taxes this year. A 2026 amendment on property taxes, if passed, wouldn't take effect until 2027. At least one city councilmember, TERRANCE FREEMAN of Jacksonville, has said publicly he's up for it. (Freeman is considering a bid for the state House, Florida Politics reported.)
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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...
VETO INCOMING — 'DeSantis suggested Wednesday that he would veto a major sales tax cut being shaped by the Florida Legislature, a move that threatens to disrupt ongoing budget negotiations between legislative leaders,' reports POLITICO's Gary Fineout.
'Late last week, state Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez announced a 'framework' on the budget that includes a $2.8 billion cut in taxes, with the largest part tied to a permanent reduction in the sales tax rate. The two leaders last week didn't specify the actual rate change, but DeSantis said it would reduce the rate from 6 percent to 5.75 percent.
'DeSantis ripped into the proposal, saying it would 'kill' efforts to reduce property taxes and repeating his past criticisms that sales tax cuts will benefit out-of-state visitors and tourists over Floridians.'
SPRINGS APPEAL — The Florida Springs Council said Wednesday it will appeal an administrative law judge's Monday order backing the state on a rules challenge. Judge GARY EARLY said the rules defining prohibited groundwater pumping that is 'harmful' to springs and rivers 'are not an invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority.'
The Springs Council said it will file a challenge with the First District Court of Appeal. A department spokesperson said Tuesday the ruling 'affirms DEP's authority to move forward with implementing enforceable criteria that will ensure meaningful protections for Florida's springs.'
— Bruce Ritchie
TRIAL FIT FOR A JUDGE — Broward Circuit Judge and former Senate Democratic Leader GARY FARMER 'is demanding a trial over charges that he acted so inappropriately from the bench that he should be suspended' in filings to Florida Supreme Court, reports Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics.
— 'DeSantis says he'll sign state parks protection bill,' Jim Rosica of USA Today Network — Florida.
— 'Advocates claim victory as several anti-LGBTQ bills fail this legislative session,' reports Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network — Florida.
— 'Low-performing nursing schools could face harsher penalties under this bill,' reports Jackie Llanos of the Florida Phoenix.
PENINSULA AND BEYOND
DISCOURSE OVER ONO — 'DeSantis said Wednesday he will not intervene in the University of Florida's presidential search as some Republicans — including gubernatorial candidate Rep. Byron Donalds — call for it to be tanked over lone finalist Santa Ono's past support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury.
'While Donalds suggested UF should 'go back to the drawing board,' DeSantis expressed faith in school trustees picking a president who will follow the state's laws prohibiting DEI. The GOP governor insisted he will 'let the process play out' at UF and touted the top University of Michigan official packing up and moving south.'
DONE AND DOGED — 'The National Science Foundation canceled a teaching grant at the University of West Florida this week just one day after the DeSantis administration's DOGE team publicly blasted the spending,' reports Andrew Atterbury.
'The rapid-fire move illustrates the turbulence facing colleges under President Donald Trump's policy changes — and Gov. Ron DeSantis' swift reforms of higher education in Florida. UWF officials confirmed NSF 'did terminate' the $871,000 grant Tuesday, on the heels of scrutiny from DeSantis and other state officials who targeted its 'social justice' component.'
— 'Sand Key condo evacuated for 'potential structural issues,' officials say,' by Emily Wunderlich of the Tampa Bay Times.
— ''Let's build bridges.' Many Miami Catholics hope conclave continues legacy of Francis,' by Lauren Costantino of the Miami Herald.
— 'Mosquito season begins in South Florida. Is climate change making it worse?' by Denise Hruby of the Miami Herald.
— 'Disney plans new theme park in Abu Dhabi,' by Wall Street Journal's Ben Fritz and Isabella Simonetti.
— 'Hotel workers union launches campaign to highlight 'resort fee ripoff' at Orlando hotels near Disney,' by Orlando Weekly's McKenna Schueler.
...HURRICANE HOLE...
STORM FORECAST — 'AccuWeather forecasters are warning the first tropical storm of the year could spin up in May before the official start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season,' reports Cheryl McCloud of USA Today Network — Florida. Fifteen tropical cyclones 'have formed before June 1' since 2003.
TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP
ANOTHER FLORIDIAN OUT — 'President Donald Trump plans to withdraw his nominee to be surgeon general just one day before Fox News contributor Janette Nesheiwat was scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, according to three people familiar with the decision granted anonymity to discuss the matter,' reports POLITICO's David Lim.
'The decision to pull Nesheiwat comes after reports that she obfuscated facts about her medical education. Conservative activist Laura Loomer, who is close to Trump, seized on the controversy in recent days and encouraged him to pick someone else.'
ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD — 'It's no secret that President Donald Trump loves gold décor. His Trump Tower penthouse in Manhattan is laced with it, as are many of Mar-a-Lago's most opulent rooms,' reports Andrew Marra of the Palm Beach Post. 'Now Trump is remaking parts of the White House in the same gilded image. And to do so, he is turning to a veteran Jupiter cabinetmaker.'
CAMPAIGN MODE
'BUSINESSWOMEN FOR BYRON'— Donalds' gubernatorial campaign 'launched its 'Businesswomen for Byron' coalition,' with Donalds' wife ERIKA DONALDS taking the helm as the coalition's honorary chair, reports Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics.
2028 SPECULATION — 'In an interview with NBC News' 'Meet the Press,' Trump suggested national security adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance — in that order — as potential candidates,' reports NBC News' Matt Dixon, Henry J. Gomez and Allan Smith.
'That he mentioned Rubio at all struck a senior White House aide as notable, given that it was the first time Trump had so publicly identified him as a favorable prospect. And the development, while not exactly surprising to anyone aware of Rubio's long-held White House ambitions, quickly injected the elements of competition and rivalry that Trump has long enjoyed fostering among those who work for him.'
NOT SO FAST, SHERIFF — Lee County Sheriff CARMINE MARCENO is not only facing a federal corruption investigation while he's considering running for Congress; he may also have to answer to 'insulting and profanity-riddled' audio recordings where he talks about the governor, CASEY DESANTIS and IVANKA TRUMP, reports Bob Norman of the Florida Trident.
DATELINE D.C.
TODAY — Former Rep. TED YOHO (R-Fla.) will be joining a panel at 10 a.m. at the Hudson Institute in Washington to talk about the importance of the U.S. funding anti-malaria efforts and what could happen to such programs under the Trump administration. Yoho testified on the issue during a House hearing on USAID earlier this year. (Watch the event live.)
TEMPORARILY ICED OUT — 'Since Trump's return to Washington, Ballard has established a reputation as perhaps the go-to lobbyist in town,' reports POLITICO's Rachael Bade and Caitlin Oprysko. 'Stories about his firm often note that he once employed White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and Attorney General Pam Bondi. They routinely mention that his relationship with Trump goes back decades. Ballard represented the Trump Organization on and off over the years and he's been a top fundraiser for the president's campaigns.
'His image as a Trump whisperer has allowed his firm to rack up a staggering 130 new clients since the November election, including Chevron, JP Morgan, Palantir, Netflix, Bayer, United Airlines and T-Mobile. In April, POLITICO's parent company, Axel Springer, hired Ballard Partners to engage with the administration. Ballard's firm hauled in $14 million during the first three months of 2025 — more than triple its lobbying revenues from the same time a year ago.
'But there is a chasm between Ballard's reputation and how he's currently perceived in the West Wing.'
— 'Pam Bondi makes another claim on the Epstein files. Even Republicans are skeptical,' by David Catanese of McClatchy.
— 'Jared Moskowitz introduces bipartisan FEMA reform bills to speed disaster aid deployment,' reports Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics.
ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN
BIRTHDAYS: Rep. Vern Buchanan … Journalist Kimberly Moore.
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