Florida Tool Lets Treasure Coast Homeowners Calculate Tax Savings Under DeSantis Proposal

A state-launched website now lets homeowners in Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties punch in their address and see, in real dollars, how much they could save on their property tax bill if Gov. Ron DeSantis's proposed homestead exemption overhaul becomes law.

The site, called Save Our Homes and identified as "created by the state of Florida," went live Friday — days before a special legislative session opens Monday in Tallahassee. The proposal must clear a 60% supermajority in both the House and the Senate before it can appear on the November ballot for voters to ratify. Any savings would not take effect until 2028 at the earliest.

For Treasure Coast homeowners watching property tax bills climb alongside soaring assessed values, the calculator offers the first concrete look at what relief could mean street by street, parcel by parcel. St. Lucie County's median home value rose more than 60% between 2019 and 2023, county property appraiser records show.

The plan unfolds in stages. Under the phased approach DeSantis now backs — a shift from his earlier promise of immediate relief — the homestead exemption limit would rise from its current $250,000 cap to $150,000 beginning Jan. 1, 2027, then reach the full $250,000 threshold at the start of 2028. From there, the Legislature would be directed to build a schedule aimed at eliminating homestead property taxes altogether for Florida residents, with a target tied to the November 2026 election cycle.

The proposal draws a line between property taxes and fees: local governments would be restricted to using property tax revenue for "core services" such as schools and first responders. However, the plan does not cap the fees those governments could raise to replace lost revenue — a distinction critics say could shift costs rather than eliminate them.

Newcomers to Florida would not immediately share in the full benefit. Residents who establish homestead status after the amendment passes would pay homestead property taxes for five years before qualifying for the exemption, a provision DeSantis described as a measure to "mitigate" undue benefits for new arrivals.

Treasure Coast homeowners should visit the Save Our Homes site, enter their property address, and note their projected savings. Track whether the Legislature clears the 60% threshold when the special session convenes Monday, because no vote means no ballot question and no savings. The calculator bases projected savings figures on the proposed exemption structure and assumes voter ratification in November; actual bills depend on local millage rates set by Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River county commissions.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.