1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

Oppose State-Imposed Property Tax Rollbacks that Harm Duval County I respectfully urge you to oppose any state-imposed rollback or restriction on local property tax authority. In Duval County and across Florida, property taxes are the backbone of funding for schools, public safety, and infrastructure. Preempting local revenue decisions in Tallahassee would shift risk and instability onto communities like Jacksonville. Eight years after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida continues to strengthen school safety requirements. Under Alyssa’s Law, districts must maintain mobile panic alert systems directly linked to law enforcement, alongside safe-school officers, hardened campuses, and emergency response coordination. These are not optional upgrades — they are statutory mandates. Duval County Public Schools depend in part on stable local revenue to meet these obligations without sacrificing classroom instruction. Property taxes in Jacksonville also fund: • Emergency response through Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department • Law enforcement operations through Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office • Road resurfacing, drainage, and stormwater resilience • Water and sewer systems • Libraries, parks, and community centers serving working families Unlike sales taxes, which fluctuate with tourism and economic cycles, property taxes provide predictable revenue that allows long-term planning. Sudden rollbacks would force immediate service reductions, deferred maintenance, and staffing cuts — even as Jacksonville’s population and infrastructure demands continue to grow. Local governments are best positioned to determine the needs of their communities. State-level restrictions on property tax authority would limit Duval County’s ability to fund legally required school safety measures, maintain critical infrastructure, and ensure timely emergency response. I urge you to preserve local fiscal authority and oppose any legislation that weakens the stable funding Jacksonville relies on to protect public safety, education, and essential services.