Florida TaxWatch dropped a bombshell report this week that has taxpayers across the state comparing notes.
And the findings about who pays what are turning heads in Tallahassee.
Because this new report shows a shocking divide in what Floridians pay in property taxes.
Monroe County residents shell out nearly $5,000 per person while some counties pay under $500
Florida TaxWatch released its "2025 How Florida Counties Compare" report Monday, revealing massive disparities in property tax burdens across the state's 67 counties.
Monroe County leads the pack at $4,874 per capita in total property tax levies, while Union County brings up the rear at just $416 per person.
That's more than a 1,000% difference between the highest and lowest taxed Floridians.
The statewide average sits at $2,398 per capita.
Walton County came in second at $4,837 per capita, followed by Collier County at $3,829.
Palm Beach, Martin, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties all exceeded $3,000 per person.
"Florida relies heavily on local governments to provide services to its residents, with more than half of all Florida government revenue being raised at the local level, the largest share in the nation," Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said in a statement.¹
The report comes as Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature prepare to debate property tax reform ahead of a potential constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot.
DeSantis has pushed for months to give voters a chance to eliminate property taxes on primary residences entirely.
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The timing couldn't be better for taxpayers fed up with rising bills.
Florida's 67 county governments, more than 400 municipalities, and roughly 1,400 special districts spend over $120 billion annually.²
That's a lot of taxpayer money flowing through local government coffers.
Florida DOGE audits exposing wasteful local spending
The report's release coincides with ongoing audits by the Florida Department of Government Efficiency targeting wasteful local government spending.
Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia has been leading DOGE teams across the state, investigating counties and cities where residents raised concerns about bloated budgets.
Broward County saw property tax collections jump $450 million over five years.³
Orange County, Pinellas County, and Hillsborough County are all under the microscope.
"Florida DOGE teams have been investigating cities and counties where taxpayers have raised concerns about wasteful spending," DeSantis said. "These audits have uncovered many irresponsible uses of taxpayer funds. It's unconscionable for local governments to raise taxes on Floridians in order to subsidize wasteful spending."⁴
The DOGE audits look at everything from DEI spending to electric vehicle purchases to consulting contracts.
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Ingoglia promised findings would reveal "undeniable" examples of waste when reports start rolling out.⁵
Local government officials have pushed back, arguing the audits overcalculate revenues and don't account for growth-driven expenses.
But DeSantis and Ingoglia aren't backing down.
Over the past decade, property tax growth outpaced combined population and inflation growth in most Florida counties.
Walton County led the pack with property taxes surging 216% while population and inflation combined grew just 90%.⁶
Pasco County saw taxes jump 169% against 70% population and inflation growth.
Even when populations boomed, taxes grew faster than the influx of new residents could justify.
Local governments took advantage of skyrocketing property values following the pandemic housing boom to pad their budgets instead of returning windfall revenues to taxpayers.
"This Florida TaxWatch report is especially important and relevant as the Governor and Legislature consider significant reforms and likely reductions in local property taxes this session," Calabro stated.⁷
Florida TaxWatch Executive Vice President Jeff Kottkamp noted that DOGE audits highlighting wasteful spending make the report's data even more critical for legislators.
The disparities aren't just about raw tax amounts.
Collier County residents enjoy a per capita income of $134,527, making higher property taxes more manageable.⁸
Union County residents average just $28,946 in annual income while still paying $416 per person in property taxes.
https://twitter.com/FLVoiceNews/status/2000657156043895097?s=20
That $416 hits a lot harder when your income is one-fifth of what coastal residents earn.
DeSantis has promised voters will get their say on property tax reform in November 2026.
The Florida House advanced multiple constitutional amendment proposals, though DeSantis dismissed them as "milquetoast" half-measures.⁹
One proposal would eliminate non-school property taxes on homesteads immediately.
Another would phase them out over 10 years.
A third would exempt residents 65 and older from non-school property taxes.
All proposals protect funding for law enforcement and schools.
The Florida Senate hasn't filed companion legislation yet, setting up a showdown in the 2026 legislative session.
Any constitutional amendment needs 60% voter approval to pass.
A University of North Florida poll showed 49% of Floridians support eliminating property taxes for homeowners, with 43% opposed.¹⁰
That's short of the 60% threshold needed for passage.
But with DOGE audits exposing waste and taxpayers angry about rising bills, those numbers could shift.
Democrats argue the proposals would devastate local services and force cuts to fire departments, police, and infrastructure.
Republicans counter that local governments can cut wasteful spending instead of essential services.
Florida TaxWatch's report provides ammunition for both sides as this debate heats up heading into 2026.
Taxpayers now have hard data showing exactly how much more some Floridians pay compared to others.
And they're not happy about the disparities.
¹ Florida TaxWatch, "2025 How Florida Counties Compare," December 15, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Governor Ron DeSantis, "Florida DOGE Puts Boots on the Ground in Gainesville and Broward County," Press Release, July 22, 2025.
⁴ Governor Ron DeSantis, "Governor Ron DeSantis and CFO Blaise Ingoglia Highlight Excessive Local Government Spending," Press Release, 2025.
⁵ Tom Hudson, "Florida's CFO says wasteful spending will be 'undeniable' once DOGE audit findings are released," WUSF, August 25, 2025.
⁶ Florida TaxWatch, "2025 How Florida Counties Compare," December 15, 2025.
⁷ Ibid.
⁸ Ibid.
⁹ Liv Caputo, "DeSantis dismisses House proposals on property tax reduction in 2026," Florida Phoenix, October 23, 2025.
¹⁰ Megan O'Neill, "Ron DeSantis Updates Florida on 2026 Plan for Property Tax Vote," Newsweek, August 28, 2025.
