Florida bill requiring supermajority for millage rate increases passes House

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Legislation by Rep. Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, requiring a two thirds supermajority vote for counties and municipalities to implement a millage rate increase passed 85-21 in the House.

Garrison’s bill, HB 1195, is a companion to Sen. Blaise Ingoglia’s, R-Spring Hill, legislation. The full Senate would still need to approve the legislation.

According to the bill’s analysis, the Florida Constitution “prescribes specific maximum millage rates that can be levied by each local government, except for special districts.”

The maximum millage rate that can be charged by a special district is determined by law, approved by a vote of the electors.

An amendment was previously passed clarifying that “the two-thirds vote requirement created by the bill does not apply to existing millage rate increases that require a three-fourths or unanimous vote of the governing body or voter approval in a referendum under current law,” the analysis noted.

Garrison previously explained to the committee that the bill was in line with Florida’s emphasis on limited government. He also tied in how the legislature is already required to have a supermajority vote in order to raise taxes at the state level, and that his legislation would require similarly local compliance as well.