“Honestly, this discussion really should be about insurance. I think that, for most people I know, it’s not the property tax, it’s the insurance.”

TALLAHASSEE — As Republican leadership in Florida continues to push for a plan to abolish property taxes in a move that would shift the cost of local services working families and seniors rely on in their daily lives without providing meaningful financial relief during the state’s affordability crisis, the skyrocketing cost of property insurance, which voters name as the top issue they are facing, continues to be ignored.

In a recent appearance on This Week in South Florida, state Representative Jim Mooney (R-Islamorada) highlighted this inconsistency, noting that the issue he is hearing the most about from his constituents is not property taxes, but that the cost of property insurance is having the biggest impact on their financial stability.

“Honestly, this discussion really should be about insurance. I think that, for most people I know, it’s not the property tax, it’s the insurance. My property taxes are X amount, my insurance are 3 times my property taxes.” – state Representative Jim Mooney (R-Islamorada)

In response, Florida Watch Communications Director Anders Croy issued the following statement:

“Floridians deserve transparency, and practical solutions from their elected officials that address the real drivers of the state’s affordability crisis, but instead Republican leadership has offered nothing but dishonest distractions from their failure to lower the skyrocketing cost of property insurance that is making housing prohibitively expensive for working families and seniors. 

“Unfortunately for Republican leaders, Representative Jim Mooney said the quiet part out loud:  while eliminating property taxes may seem like a relief, the truth is, those resources pay for vital local services Floridians need like public hospitals and health services, disaster preparedness and relief, firefighters and EMTs, and public schools, while the real issue of unaffordable property insurance premiums remains unaddressed.

“It’s time for Republicans to be honest that their refusal to stand up to their donors in the insurance industry while they price gouge hardworking Floridians is driving this affordability crisis and shifting the cost of local services people rely on to private corporations or adding new fees to their bills won’t give workers and seniors the financial freedom they have earned.”

The facts on property insurance in Florida

Since the policies passed by Republican leadership favoring the insurance industry during a December 2022 special session:

• Property insurance rates have increased by 40% statewide; 
• Floridians are paying nearly five times the national average for property insurance;
• Insurance corporations are now closing nearly half of cases without payment while lawsuits have increased as policyholders try to get the money they are owed after faithfully paying their premiums;
• And Florida leads the nation in insurance non-renewal rates.

Florida Watch is a communications and research organization that serves as the progressive community’s in-state hub for message development, digital communications, and research. Florida Watch keeps an eye on everything that goes on in our state to hold our elected officials accountable when they support laws and policies that make it harder for everyday Floridians to be healthy, prosperous, and safe.

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