APA Florida Property Tax One Pager Version 2

Property

taxes are essential to Florida’s residents, communities, and successful growth.

Property taxes provide critical funding for the effective planning that powers Florida’s infrastructure, sustained growth, and resilience. From shorter commutes to natural disaster readiness and rebuilding, this investment directly benefits every Floridian.

As Florida welcomes nearly half a million new residents each year, effective planning is essential to protecting the quality of life and natural resources that make our state unique and sustain local economies.

Ensuring Infrastructure Keeps Pace

Planning helps roads, utilities, schools, and transportation systems keep up with growth – mitigating congestion, costly delays, and infrastructure failures.

Supporting Communities & Quality of Life

As Florida continues to grow, planning supports a healthy housing supply and housing attainability, ensuring our state remains a place where workers, families, and retirees can live and contribute. It also protects the quality of life that draws people here: vibrant main streets, parks, public spaces, and connected communities.

Protecting Florida’s Natural Resources

Florida’s natural resources support two of the state’s largest economic drivers: tourism and agriculture, which together fuel hundreds of billions in annual economic activity. Planning is how we ensure our state’s natural resources – from coastlines and wetlands to trails and parks – remain intact for future generations of Floridians and visitors.

Protecting property taxes ensures continued investment in the effective planning that is critical to Florida’s communities, residents, and future economic success.

Once an EPA Superfund site, Cascades Park was transformed into a world-class park in downtown Tallahassee with an innovative stormwater management system.

Planning in Action: Real Benefits to Florida’s Communities and Economies

Across the state, investment in effective planning is building stronger local economies, more resilient infrastructure, and spaces that draw both residents and visitors.

McCoys Creek Restoration (Jacksonville)

Restoration of McCoys Creek has transformed a flood-prone drainage channel into a natural waterway with stormwater management, improved water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and a park system connected to the Emerald Trails network that both residents and visitors enjoy.

Pioneer Park & the Port District (Port St. Lucie)

Port St. Lucie’s Port District Master Plan transformed an underused riverfront into Pioneer Park—a vibrant destination that blends nature, community, and sustainability. Since opening in June 2024, it has drawn more than 471,000 visitors.

St. Pete Pier & Downtown Waterfront Master Plan (St. Petersburg)

St. Petersburg’s Downtown Waterfront Master Plan transformed the St. Pete Pier into one of Florida’s most successful waterfront economic drivers, drawing 2.3 million visitors annually.

Ready Set Orange (Orange County)

Orange County’s Ready Set Orange program has simplified the permitting process and reduced construction costs for small houses and ADUs, making it easier for homeowners to add housing on existing lots and supporting a more attainable housing supply without new infrastructure.

Southport Turning Notch Expansion (Port Everglades)

The Southport Turning Notch Expansion strengthened Florida’s role in international trade by lengthening a critical port channel by 1,500 feet, creating capacity for five additional berths. To protect the surrounding natural resources, the initiative also included a restoration project creating over 16 acres of new mangrove habitat and restoring adjacent shoreline and wetland areas.

Contact: contact@floridaplanning.org

850-688-8015

2017 Delta Blvd., Suite 101 Tallahassee, FL 32303