Emerson proposal ties a property tax exemption to sales tax

The proposal would exempt an annually determined amount of homestead property value from City of Emerson property taxes. It would cover residents of the special district with homestead property there. The district is conterminous with Bartow County, and only the portion of property within the district would qualify. The amount would be based on net proceeds from a new 1 percent local sales tax collected in the special district. The exemption would be in addition to other homestead exemptions and would affect only City of Emerson taxes on property within the district. The bill requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers and approval by more than half of the votes cast in the city election. A person generally must apply, but someone who received a city homestead exemption for the same property in the prior year and remains eligible would not need to apply again. The city election is set for November 2026. If voters approve the proposal, the exemption would start January 1, 2027, and apply to tax years through December 31, 2039.