Full disclosure: I am a homesteaded property owner who would welcome lower taxes. I also serve as Vice Mayor of Wilton Manors, one of the best cities in America. I am writing here in my personal capacity, after carefully weighing the proposed property tax reform measure headed to voters this November.

On the surface, cutting property taxes sounds appealing. Who would not want a lower bill? But this proposal eliminates significant local revenue without providing any replacement funding. In Wilton Manors, property taxes account for more than 20% of our general fund. Removing that much of a city’s budget, with no plan to fill the gap, would have serious consequences.

The state has offered no replacement revenue from sales taxes, tourism dollars, or any dedicated fund for cities left to manage the shortfall. That means the burden would fall locally, through service reductions, delayed infrastructure maintenance, and pressure on every department residents rely on, from public safety to utilities. These are not abstract budget lines. They are the roads, water systems, emergency response, and neighborhood services that keep our community safe and functioning. Of course, investments in quality of life items will be cut immediately while concurrently seeing a rise in nearly every fee possible in order to stop the bleed.

The impact would not stop with homeowners. To offset lost revenue, non-homestead properties would likely face higher tax rates. That means businesses could pay more for their spaces, renters could see those costs passed on through higher rents, and short-term rental guests could face higher prices as owners absorb rising costs. In a community and state that depend heavily on small businesses and tourism, that matters.

I will personally be voting against this amendment. To be clear, I am not speaking on behalf of the City of Wilton Manors. The city is legally prohibited from taking an official position or spending public dollars to explain these impacts to residents. That is precisely why I believe it is important to speak plainly as a homeowner, resident, and stakeholder who loves Wilton Manors.

Lower taxes are a worthy goal, but nothing is truly free. We should ask whether this proposal provides a long-term solution to equitably making housing more affordable, helping small businesses, protecting public safety, or strengthening our infrastructure. I can assure you: it will do none of those things.

There are more responsible and equitable ways to reform property taxes. Florida leaders should be focused on the real cost pressures facing residents, especially insurance, housing affordability for all, rather than promoting a measure that will certainly destabilize local communities without solving the real problems we’re dealing with today.

Respectfully, 
Chris Caputo 
Vice Mayor, City of Wilton Manors 
Writing in my personal capacity