Currently, there are two property bills gaining legislative traction in Tallahassee which if approved by Florida voters this fall would benefit homesteaders of which there are 111,354 properties in Manatee County and homesteaders who are 65 and older of which there are 61,058 properties.
The first bill (HJR209) would provide an additional $100,000 exemption/reduction in assessed value and according to recent reports is ready to go before the full House once the legislative session begins Jan.13. This bill would save homesteaders $664.00 annually and reduce Manatee County property tax revenues by $75.4 million representing a 17.2% reduction based on 2025 property tax revenues of $439.4 million.
The second bill (HJR 205) which eliminates property taxes for homesteaders 65 and over would result in an average savings of $1665.00 per homestead. This measure would reduce Manatee County property tax collections by $101.6 million resulting in a 23.1% reduction in property tax revenues to Manatee County based on total 2025 property tax collection of $439.4 million…