- February 22, 2026
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The Longboat Key Town Commission has no choice but to keep up to date on what’s going on in Tallahassee.
The town government’s funding may depend on it as state leaders aim to earn political points with voters with property tax reform. But that move would be bad news for local governments who rely heavily on property taxes, with 80% of Longboat Key’s general fund revenue coming from property taxes.
At a Town Commission workshop meeting Feb. 20, lobbyists for the town updated the Commission on the latest from Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. that could impact the small town on the gulf. Dave Ramba, a registered lobbyist and founder of Ramba Consulting Group, said property tax reform legislation has begun to be introduced in the Legislature. The legislative session started Jan. 13.
“We do have a bill coming up this week on the floor. A joint resolution by Rep. Monique Miller of Brevard County that would phase out non-school homestead property taxes as a joint resolution to be on the November ballot,” Ramba said. “That’s the first of nine different proposals that have been suggested in the House. Some have stumbled along the way. They just didn’t make it. This one will be going to the full House.”
For a joint resolution to appear on voters’ ballots, though, it would need to be approved by the Florida House and Senate, the latter of which has not introduced any similar resolutions yet.
“As of today, not a single resolution for consideration has been even filed in the Florida Senate. We do expect that to be a bone of contention,” Ramba said. “This is something the governor wants to put on the ballot, but the governor has not come up with any specific type of suggestion or plan. More speaking in what can fit on a bumper sticker that nobody should pay property taxes. Obviously, we know the real financial impact of that.”
Ramba said what he thinks is more likely is an expansion of the state’s homestead exemption. As is, Florida residents may claim one Florida property as their permanent residence or homestead property, which then reduces the taxable value of the home by $50,000. Ramba predicts that amount could be doubled to $100,000, leading to property tax decreases without significantly handicapping local government revenues.
Another potential piece of legislation that could have financial impacts is regarding local business taxes. Town Finance Director Sue Smith said the local business tax brings in about $150,000 per year in town revenue. Ramba said the desire to reform business tax collections comes from some municipalities that collect business tax money and “offer no service” while imposing excessive fees. Ramba said the Florida Senate bill for business tax still needs to go through multiple committees and thinks “we’re a ways away from that bill getting to the finish line.”
The town’s bottom line can also be impacted federally, and the Commission was briefed on the latest from Washington, D.C. by lobbying firm Potomac Partners. Potomac’s Rick Alcalde updated Longboat leaders on appropriations requests, including $1 million approved through U.S. Rep. Greg Steube’s office for the town’s subaqueous pipeline project.
Alcalde said he also “fully expects” the town to receive funds requested through U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s office as part of the next iteration of the Water Resources Development Act.
“Longboat Key, a lot of thanks to Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Steube and the continuous trips by (Commissioner) BJ (Bishop), is very well respected for a smaller community on Capitol Hill. A lot of members will do their big destination fundraisers right in your city,” Alcalde said. “It’s respected and often gets the kind of attention that you want. We also are known for being very close to a variety of the subcommittee chairmen that control the process.”
Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier said something the town would greatly benefit from is finding a way to receive U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding for its beach renourishment projects, the greatest recurring expense the town has.
