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A special message from Town Manager Heidi Siegel
Dear Residents:
We are beyond the halfway point of the scheduled 60-day Legislative Session in Tallahassee. In this week’s installment – with just one more to go – I answer some questions I have received from you. At the end of this message, I share how you can have your voice heard. By the end of next week, we should know more definitively whether the Senate intends to take up any of the House’s proposals that severely cut local government operating budgets. If you have any questions in the meantime, all of my contact info is at the bottom of this e-mail.
Please note that this email series has focused on property tax reform. Next week, we will also cover a few of the policy bills that threaten the Town’s ability to oversee current building permits and new construction. About 1,800 bills were filed overall this Session, and the Town Commission has been briefed on several dozen we are following the most closely due to the potential impacts to the Town.
Thank you again for your questions and great feedback about Town services!
Q: On a scale of 1-10, how serious is Property Tax Reform and its resultant adverse impacts?
A: Right now today, it is a 5. That’s because it is all 50-50 at this point! The House has multiple reforms moving and has had House floor votes. Whether Senators feel the same about “needing to do something” this Session remains to be seen.
Time in the 60-day Session is running out — because they need the remaining time for the State Budget and other policy matters. There is also the possibility of the Governor calling the Legislature back to Tallahassee for a Special Session in late March or April.
Q: What is the Senate doing about Property Tax Reform?
A: The Senate President has consistently said this issue that needs to be approached carefully. Senate President Ben Albritton is a citrus grove farmer who is well-versed on State and local government matters. He has indicated that more data may be needed about the totality of impacts. He is not opposed to property tax reform but has indicated that the Senate may not have the appetite for most of the dramatic proposals so far being passed by the House.
Q: Don't all of the House proposals protect our police department?
A: No. It is true that most proposals in the House prohibit municipalities from reducing current funding levels for public safety. However, without ad valorem property tax revenue, the Town would not be able to maintain current public safety funding levels, which constitute approximately 50% of our budget. Other communities are considering contracting with their respective sheriff offices. A lot of you have shared with me that you choose to live here for the level of public safety you receive from our police department.
Q: Will Florida voters see something on the November 2026 or not?
A: We don’t know yet. There is no Constitutional amendment that has been voted out of both the House and Senate to date. The House is absolutely committed to putting something on the November 2026 ballot — but they need the Senate to pass the same ballot language containing the same reforms.
Q: What is being done, and by which groups?
A: For nearly a year now, the Florida League of Cities has led this fight successfully with data, materials, assets, in-person gatherings, and online meetings with its 411 members, resulting in unprecedented advocacy.
The Town of Jupiter Inlet Colony has been on the frontlines of that effort. Examples include Commissioner Dave Shula and I traveling in person to Tallahassee to meet with decisionmakers — and Commissioner Shula testifying at a committee hearing. The Town also hired a state and federal legislative consultant who lives locally and has worked in all three branches of State government, including for the Legislature and the Executive Branch.
The Florida League of Cities has done a fantastic job of engaging other statewide associations whose members will be even more adversely impacted from these reforms, such as the Florida Association of Counties. Special taxing districts will also be adversely impacting including the Jupiter Inlet District.
Q: Won't the State "backfill" the cuts to the Town's tax base?
A: No. Last year, Governor DeSantis requested that the Legislature send him a bill that included full elimination of property taxes in Florida. He did not identify a way to replace those cuts to all cities and counties and other tax districts. (At one point, economists said the state sales tax would have to increase to 12%-14% to make up the difference. Most legislators said they would not support such a move.)
Furthermore, the Governor indicated that he had a method to supplement some of lost revenue only for local governments within “fiscally constrained counties.” That does not include or help Palm Beach County. “Fiscally constrained counties” are listed in Florida Statutes and tend to be in North Central Florida and Northwest Florida—there are about 3 dozen total.
Q: Last but not least, how can I best support the Town at this point in the property tax reform debate?
A: I continue to urge you to send a message to the Senate to “hold the line.” Short messages to Senate President Ben Albritton and to our State Senator Gayle Harrell are below. These are drafts. Please use your own words—you can see the clear distinctions between the two messages. For those who already emailed the legislators, these are “new” messages. Yes, you could email anew, and yes, your voice on this truly matters.
Use the following points to send a note in your own words to
Senate President Ben Albritton at: Albritton.Ben.web@flsenate.gov
- Has demonstrated strong leadership. Recognizes and appreciates there is no "one size fits all" solution here that would not create harm or create new problems.
- Thank him for his continuous statements that Senate does not want unintended consequences for citizens through well-meaning "savings."
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Point out that Town budget would have deep cuts in services due to this being very small and coastal community. A Town of less than 500, surrounded by water on three sides.
- Thank him for continuing to be careful and mindful of smaller communities in particular, of which we are one.
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