Good Morning, Sunland
It's Tuesday! And the latest podcast episode is live! We're talking about some house bills, Martin County water bill reimbursement, amongst other things. Check it out!
👁️ Caught my eye: Boston House Restaurant is opening in March in Fort Pierce. After over a year of renovations, the fine dining spot is moving into the historic 1909 Cresthaven building on Indian River Drive. Already being compared to Savannah's Olde Pink House.
💜 People Pass Shoutout: Thank you to everyone supporting the newsletter! If you want to help keep this going, support here.
Alright, let's jump right in!
Ja’Min Devon
🏠 Main Squeeze: Property Tax Bill Passes Florida House, Heads to Senate
The Florida House passed HJR 203 this week, a constitutional amendment that would phase out non-school property taxes on primary residences between 2027 and 2037. The vote was 80 to 30, mostly along party lines.
What the bill does: It adds $100,000 in homestead exemptions each year until non-school property taxes on permanent primary residences are gone. School district levies would remain. The bill also prohibits counties and municipalities from reducing total funding for law enforcement below their 2024 or 2025 levels.
The cost: According to the Florida Policy Institute, the amendment would result in about $13.3 billion in recurring annual losses for local governments statewide. For the Treasure Coast, Martin County Press reports the potential impact as:
St. Lucie County: $288 million annually
Martin County: $161 million annually
Indian River County: $115 million annually
Okeechobee County: $9 million annually
What gets impacted: Since law enforcement and fire-rescue are protected under the bill, other services would take the hit. Parks and recreation improvements could be deferred or eliminated. Library hours could be reduced or branches closed. Capital improvements and infrastructure projects could be delayed or eliminated.
Organizations funded by property taxes like the South Florida Water Management District and Children Services Councils would see their funding drastically impacted. The SFWMD relies on ad valorem taxes for roughly 43% of its $1.283 billion budget.
Where the money comes from: There's been no official plan yet from the Florida Legislature on how to replace the lost revenue. The most discussed option is increasing sales tax. The Florida Policy Institute estimates Florida would need to raise its sales tax from 6% to between 12% and 14% to offset the lost local revenue. The Florida Chamber of Commerce estimated it could require increasing to 8.85%.
Higher sales taxes would shift the burden to consumers, tourists, and renters. Landlords and property management companies would still pay property taxes, which could result in higher rents. Commercial properties may also see increased rates.
What's next: The bill must pass the Florida Senate to make it onto the November 2026 ballot. If it passes the Senate, voters would need to approve it with a 60% majority for it to be implemented.
I discussed this bill in depth on this week's podcast with Robin Cartwright from Martin County Press.
What do you think? Leave your thoughts here!
Sponsored: Stoney’s $6 Tuesday
Tuesdays and Wednesdays just got better at Stoney's. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, get any lunch bowl for just $6. Same portions. Same flavor. Better price.
Starts at 11 AM.
Pull up to Stoney's and grab lunch for six bucks.
📍 912 N 25th St, Fort Pierce
🥳 Out-of-Towner: Feb 24 - Mar 3
Friday, February 27
🛍️ Olive Branch Outdoor Market – Local vendors, food trucks, and live music at 3750 NE Indian River Dr, Jensen Beach. | 4–7 PM | Free
🎬 Community Movie Night – How to Train Your Dragon – Free outdoor movie on a 20-foot LED screen with food trucks at Sandsprit Park, Stuart. | Gates 5:30 PM, Movie 6:30 PM | Free | Details
🎬 JBE Family Movie Night – Lilo & Stitch – Outdoor movie night hosted by Jensen Beach Elementary PTA at 2525 NE Savannah Rd, Jensen Beach. | Gates 5:30 PM, Movie at Dusk | Free
Saturday, February 28
🧄 Melbourne 1st Annual Garlic Fest – Food trucks, crafters, and vendors all featuring garlic-themed food and goods at Wickham Park, 2500 Parkway Dr, Melbourne. | 11 AM–4 PM | Free
🦋 Atala Butterfly Festival – 7th annual celebration of the Atala butterfly with arts, crafts, native plant sale, and garden tours at River Center, 805 US-1, Jupiter. | 10 AM–1 PM | Free | Register
Wednesday, February 25
💜 Derek Mack's Tribute to Prince – Live tribute to the PRINCE (one of my favorite artist, if I was your girlfriend is m favorite song) with desserts and handcrafted drinks at Sweet Desires Dessert Lounge, 44 Royal Palm Pointe, Vero Beach. | 7–10 PM | Details
Sunday, March 1
🏃 Marathon of the Treasure Coast Presented by Publix – 13th annual marathon featuring competitive racing and beautiful Treasure Coast scenery at Stuart Memorial Park, Stuart. | 6 AM | Tickets
If you have an event, send it to me here
💧 The Last Drop: School Stickers
🏫 73% of Florida schools are Title I – 3,095 Title I schools outpace charter (687) and magnet (611). Title I schools get federal aid because at least 40% of students come from low-income households. Title I schools
🏓 New pickleball facility opens at Treasure Coast Square mall – If you're still out there playing pickleball, might be worth checking out the new spot at the mall. Pickleball facility
🚗 Florida may eliminate license plate stickers – Bill (HB 841) would switch to electronic verification only. License stickers
🏥 Cleveland Clinic Tradition earns highest stroke designation – First Treasure Coast hospital to achieve Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center status from Joint Commission. Treats 800+ stroke patients annually. Stroke center
👶 Florida ranks 4th worst for birth costs – State ranked poorly for affordability, maternity leave obligations, and maternal mortality rates in iSelect study. Birth costs
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