Gov. DeSantis floats $1.1B tax cut plan aimed at children’s items

Mercury Public Affairs merges with Chicago firm to expand Midwestern footprint

Central Florida lawmakers tapped to lead Senate committees

Florida’s new jobless claims drop for third straight week

'We can do this tax relief really without breaking a sweat at this point.'

Flush with a $20 billion surplus — padded with federal stimulus funds from the COVID-19 crisis — Gov. Ron DeSantis wants lawmakers next year to pass another large tax cut plan, which he says will save families $1.1 billion.

The proposal largely targets eliminating the sales tax on items for babies and small children, including diapers, toys, cribs, strollers and children’s books.

Lawmakers passed a one-year exemption on sales taxes on diapers and clothes for babies this year, but DeSantis wants to make it permanent. That provision is estimated to save consumers $133 million.

DeSantis said his handling of COVID-19, opening back up from lockdown faster than other states, helped boost Florida’s economy and gave it a budget cushion to pass his tax cut plan, even if Florida suffers from an economic downturn led by record inflation.

“We’re really well-positioned,” DeSantis said at a press conference in Bradenton on Tuesday. “We can do this tax relief really without breaking a sweat at this point.”

DeSantis still faces a race for re-election, but if he defeats Democrat Charlie Crist in November, Florida lawmakers will consider the proposal during their next 60-day Regular Session, which starts March 7. Many planks of the plan won’t take effect until the start of the next fiscal year, July 1, 2023.

Here’s a rundown of his plan:

— Permanent elimination of sales tax on baby necessities, such as diapers, wipes, clothes and shoes — $133 million

— Permanent sales tax exemption for strollers and cribs — $4 million

— One-year sales tax exemption for children’s books — $17 million

— One-year sales tax exemption for children’s toys — $116 million

— One-year sales tax exemption for household items — $112 million

— One-year sales tax exemption for children’s athletic equipment — $33 million

— One-year sales tax exemption for pet food — $160 million

— Permanent sales tax exemption for over-the-counter pet medicine — $29 million

— Extending the back-to-school sales tax holiday to four weeks, with two weeks before the fall semester and two weeks before the spring semester — $210 million

— Permanent exemption of the sales tax on medical supplies and equipment — $59 million

— Renewing other sales tax holidays passed this year, such as for hurricane preparedness items — $196 million

Post Views: 0

8 comments

Tom
September 20, 2022 at 2:58 pm

Great, America’s Gov making a difference in people’s lives. Get rid of it all.
- Paul Pizzarelli
  September 20, 2022 at 3:08 pm
  
  It’s a detriment to the state… non governance at it’s finest. Also Florida has hoarded federal money…red taker state. Bum/grifter state..low wage slave plantation.
Mr. Haney
September 20, 2022 at 3:22 pm

Wrong again halfwit. Where’s DeSantis plan to hire teachers that actually have credentials? Where’s DeSantis plan to hire prison guards so the National Guardsmen can be released from their slave labor gig? Where’s DeSantis plan to address Homeowner’s insurance problems?

I’ll help ya Tom… There isn’t any because DeSantis is a clown.
- Elliott Offen
  September 20, 2022 at 4:55 pm
  
  Empty suit. Claim victory because the wind blew, buy some votes with bonuses, spew right wing propaganda and beat your chest for the apes. All in a days work for the modern right wing wresting star.
- Tom
  September 21, 2022 at 5:39 am
  
  Haney, did you get the toilet paper out of pants?
  
  You have to move from your cave, he’s hired both. The ultimate Governor who is a Problem solver.
  
  He’s hired national guard and teachers. Ok go back to your cave.
  Stop lying so much.
  
  DeSantis will be re elected and elected President. Get used to it.
  Enjoy.
David In Shoreline
September 20, 2022 at 11:22 pm

I know the Governor played a lot of ball and that makes sense because he keeps hitting it out of the park. Nothing sounds better to most voters than KEEPING MORE OF THEIR OWN MONEY.
Alfred Galli
September 21, 2022 at 8:46 am

It would seem better to put the money into teachers salaries. This is simply an election incentive.
Lane
September 21, 2022 at 10:17 am

Approved two rate hikes for Florida Insurance companies this year already.
No gas tax relief as promised
650,000 for an air plane ride

Its all showmanship.
We need a leader that has all Americans back not just one political party or another.