Florida Homestead Property Tax Exemption: for-pay parks and boat ramps? @ Gilchrist County Workshop 2026-04-20

A Florida bill could force Florida county parks and boat ramps to be pay for use, and could eliminate 4-H, agricultural extension services, libraries, and even county veteran services.

If passed, HJR 203 would eliminate all property taxes on homestead property except school taxes.

It failed in the Florida Senate, but it will be heard again in a July 2026, legislative special session.

If it passes the legislature, the people will get to vote on this constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

Florida Homestead Property Tax Exemption: for-pay parks and boat ramps? @ Gilchrist County Workshop, Monday, April 20, 2026

Gilchrist County held a workshop about this on April 20, 2026. Other counties would do well to do the same.

The origin of the word republic is the latin phrase Res publica, which means public thing. It is often translated as commonwealth. I understand people don’t like paying taxes, especially property taxes. But something is needed to fund public services. Florida already does not have income tax.

That leaves a gas tax, increasing millage on everybody else, or, as slide 28 suggests, “100% Fee based parks.” Which wouldn’t help libraries or 4-H.

I don’t know about you, but I prefer people, especially young people, being able to go to the library or to the river without paying, such as to Hart Springs, Otter Springs, or the FL 47 Ramp, aka Santa Fe River Gilchrist County Park Ramp. Otherwise, they will find other, perhaps more troublesome, ways to spend their time.

Oh, and your taxes would still be paying to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee Basin; see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Community Amenities, $1,500,000, 2026-04-20 –Gilchrist County, FL
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HJR 203 passed the Florida House 80 to 30 on February 19, 2026. You can see how your representative voted:

https://towncloud.io/go/gilchrist-county-fl/agendas/671

In the Florida Senate, the bill died in the Appropriations Committee on March 13. But it or something like it will be back in July.

Images of the workshop slides are below.

Thanks to WWALS Events Committee member Hailey Hall for pointing them out.

-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Revenue Workshop On Ad Valorem Tax Reduction, 2026-04-20 –Gilchrist County, FL
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