Seminole County warns property tax plan could cut $409 million in revenue

Seminole County officials said the state’s new property-tax push could force hard choices on police, fire protection, transit and other core services if it drains local revenue the way they fear.

As Florida lawmakers opened a special session on property taxes, Gov. Ron DeSantis advanced a proposal called “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” that would immediately raise the homestead exemption and create a path to eliminate property taxes on primary residences through general law. If lawmakers approve a constitutional amendment, it would go to voters, and Florida amendments need at least 60% approval to pass.

Seminole County Property Appraiser David Johnson estimated the plan would reduce county property-tax revenue by $409 million over two years. Tax Collector J.R. Kroll said he was not a fan of the proposal and hoped “sound minds” would prevail.

Johnson warned that local governments depend on property-tax revenue to pay for essential services, especially police and fire. Kroll said cuts could reach services many residents rely on without thinking about them, including LYNX buses, the Scout rideshare service and veteran services.

The stakes are especially high in Seminole County because the county’s spending plan already shows how much of the budget is tied to basic operations. County budget materials showed a proposed FY 2025/26 budget of $1,228,078,463, up from an adopted FY 2024/25 budget of $1,099,097,733. The budget agenda included LYNX, the Tax Collector, the Sheriff’s Office, the Fire Department and Emergency Services, all of which would be exposed to pressure if the county had to fill a massive revenue gap.

County leaders have already been wrestling with tighter finances. In June 2025, commissioners were considering raising the countywide general property tax rate for the first time in almost two decades. Later reporting said Seminole County was facing roughly a $35 million deficit in its 2025-26 budget and weighing a 0.5-mill increase to the base rate.

A March 2025 county budget document said county leadership had already been discussing revenue trends, cost projections and structural challenges, underscoring how little room the county has if Tallahassee changes the tax rules. For Seminole County residents, the debate is not an abstract fight over tax policy. It is a direct question of whether the county can keep staffing public safety, running mobility services and maintaining the day-to-day government functions people use every week.