Broward County property appraiser warns Coral Springs could lose tens of millions if Florida property tax reform becomes law
Coral Springs, Florida – A sweeping proposal to overhaul property taxes in Florida could dramatically reshape the financial outlook for cities like Coral Springs, potentially stripping tens of millions of dollars from local budgets while delivering substantial tax savings to homeowners.
That warning came during a recent meeting of the Coral Springs City Commission, where Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar laid out what the proposed reforms being discussed in Tallahassee could mean for the city’s finances. The proposals, which are still under debate among state lawmakers, center on reducing or eliminating certain property taxes that currently serve as a major funding source for local governments across Florida.
Kiar stressed that the stakes are unusually high. If the Legislature ultimately places a measure on the ballot, voters across the state would have the final say in November.
“Whatever vote our legislators put on the ballot, it will be by far the most consequential vote they’ll ever make in their life,” Kiar said. “And then when the people of Florida go and vote in November, it could also be the most consequential vote we make as well, because it potentially changes the way things are, and the way local services are even provided throughout the state of Florida.”
One proposal already approved by the Florida House of Representatives would allow voters to decide whether to eliminate property taxes on homes that qualify for the state’s Save Our Homes exemption. Under the plan, homeowners would continue paying only the school-related portion of their property taxes, while other local taxes would disappear.
For homeowners, the savings could be substantial. In Coral Springs alone, about 25,871 homesteaded properties could benefit. According to Kiar’s estimates, the average annual savings for those households would reach $3,838. The median savings would be slightly lower at $3,563.
But those savings for residents would translate into a massive financial gap for the city government.
Kiar told commissioners that Coral Springs could lose roughly $44.5 million in revenue if the plan takes effect. That figure represents nearly 45 percent of the city’s property tax income used to support its general fund.
The proposal also contains a requirement meant to protect public safety services. It would prohibit local governments from cutting funding for police, fire departments, and other first responders. While that safeguard ensures those services remain intact, it also limits how cities could respond to the revenue loss.
“If you had to hold the police and fire harmless, which is 50% of your funding, you’re taking 50% out there, you’re losing 44.6%. That leaves you with about 5% to be able to provide all the other services that you need without increasing fees or sales taxes being increased,” Kiar said. “So, it’s a pretty significant loss of revenue to the City of Coral Springs.”
The Senate did not pass a matching bill during the recent legislative session, meaning the proposal is not yet finalized. However, lawmakers are reportedly discussing the possibility of returning for a special legislative session to revisit the issue.
In addition to the broader proposal targeting all homesteaded properties, another idea circulating in Tallahassee would offer tax relief to a specific group: homeowners aged 65 and older.
Under that alternative, non-school property taxes would be eliminated for qualifying homesteaded seniors. Similar to the other proposal, it would include restrictions preventing cities from reducing funding for police, fire, and emergency services.
Coral Springs has a sizable population of older homeowners who could benefit from such a measure. According to Kiar, there are 7,706 homesteaded properties in the city where the owner is over the age of 65.
Those households would also see noticeable financial relief. The average annual savings under the senior-focused plan would be about $2,859, while the median savings would come in at roughly $2,577.
From the city’s perspective, the financial impact would still be significant, though far less severe than the broader property tax elimination plan. Kiar estimated Coral Springs would lose about $10 million in property tax revenue, or roughly 10 percent of its current intake.
Compared with the first proposal, that level of loss might be easier for municipalities to absorb.
“Actually, I think it’s a more manageable type of amendment for cities and counties to adopt,” he said.
For now, both ideas remain under consideration as Florida lawmakers debate how far they are willing to go in reshaping the state’s property tax system. If a proposal does move forward, voters will ultimately decide its fate during the November election.
Until then, city leaders across Florida — including those in Coral Springs — are watching closely, aware that the decisions made in Tallahassee could reshape local budgets, services, and tax bills for years to come.
