With the possibility of major changes to Florida’s property tax system, Wilton Manors commissioners are taking a cautious approach to city staffing. During their meeting on Jan. 13, commissioners told City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson to consult them before filling any future vacancies. 

Several property tax proposals are making their way through the legislature, any one of which could upend how municipalities collect revenue. The one favored by Gov. Ron DeSantis would essentially eliminate property taxes. 

If that were to pass, it’s likely cities would be forced to submit a budget to the state and then the state would decide how much money to appropriate and what it could fund. It’s essentially a power grab by Tallahassee and would be a body blow to home rule. Any change would need to be approved by 60% of voters in November. 

With that threat looming, commissioners have decided to approve filling any openings. There are four current openings (a police officer, code compliance officer, an electric/plumbing maintenance position, and IT) and those would still be filled. 

The pause is until at least April when the legislative session ends. However, the governor has threatened to call a special session to deal with the issue, since there is a good chance several proposals could make the ballot. If that happened it could confuse voters and essentially cancel each other out. 

Any changes that pass would not start until Oct. 1, 2027, the beginning of the 2028 budget year.