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Families across Miami-Dade County are under real pressure. Rising property taxes, higher insurance premiums, and increasing mortgage costs are putting homeownership out of reach for too many. My focus is simple: We must deliver real relief for our residents, support property tax reforms that lower these costs, and help families stay in the homes and neighborhoods they love.
I hear these concerns at every town hall meeting. Seniors who spent a lifetime building stability tell me they can no longer carry the rising costs on their own. Many feel forced to rent out efficiencies inside their homes just to keep up with taxes and insurance. Young couples tell me they want to stay in Miami-Dade, near their families and their work, but the math does not add up. We all have friends, family, and loved ones who have moved away, because they could not make homeownership work.
This is not only a local issue. It is a national trend with long-term consequences. New research shows that rising housing costs may have played a major role in America’s declining birth rate. One recent study found that without the rise in housing costs since 1990, the United States would have seen thirteen million more births. When families look at the cost of buying a home and raising children, many delay major life decisions or decide against them altogether.
A falling birth rate affects the entire country. It means fewer workers supporting our economy in the future. It puts pressure on programs like Social Security. It becomes a community concern when young families feel pushed out of the housing market and out of the places they love.
For many years, Florida voters approved important protections for homeowners. The homestead exemption, the Save Our Homes cap, and portability offered stability for a time. But today’s conditions have outpaced those protections. Insurance costs, home prices, and interest rates have grown faster than the tools meant to keep them manageable.
That is why the work taking place in the Florida House of Representatives led by Speaker Danny Perez, along with Governor Ron DeSantis’ strong focus on property tax reform, matters so much. Their approach is rooted in fiscal discipline — not growing government, but lowering the burden on hardworking taxpayers. Together, their efforts reflect a shared commitment to easing the burden on Florida families.
State leaders, including Representative Juan Carlos Porras and Representative Demi Busatta, have brought forward a broad package of ideas that would allow voters to choose from several options to lower property taxes. Some proposals increase homestead exemptions. Others support seniors, first time homebuyers, and families facing high insurance costs. Some phase out non-school homestead taxes over time. Others allow residents to transfer their full Save Our Homes benefit when they move. Together, these ideas give Floridians the freedom to shape the solutions that fit their needs.
At the county level, my team and I are working on legislation that stands with this effort. We are focused on providing real property tax relief while protecting the core services that families depend on every day like police and fire.
I support these efforts because families need relief now.
Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American Dream, a reflection of faith, freedom, and the responsibility we pass on to the next generation.
My commitment is simple. I will continue to stand with our residents, advocate for relief that makes a real difference, and work with state leaders to ensure that Miami-Dade County remains a place where families can grow and stay for generations to come.
