Florida CFO Launches Audit to Address Rising Property Taxes

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Blaise Ingoglia, has initiated an audit involving Broward, Gainesville, Orange, and several other counties, aiming to tackle the ongoing issues of increasing property taxes and government overspending.

Across much of the U.S., property taxes are on the rise, but the impact can vary significantly based on geography. In 2024, the median property tax bill in the country reached $3,500, reflecting a 2.8% uptick from the year prior, largely influenced by climbing home prices and alterations in local tax rates.

Interestingly, homeowners report contrasting tax burdens depending on their state. As noted by Joel Varner, a senior economist at Realtor.com, “Tax growth varies widely from state to state. Some areas experience tax increases that outstrip home value growth, while others see property taxes decrease even with rising home values.”

For instance, West Virginia homeowners pay an average annual property tax of just $728, the lowest in the nation, while New Jersey boasts a staggering median bill of $9,413 per year, the highest according to Realtor.com.

The states with the lowest property taxes include:

• West Virginia — $728
• Alabama — $804
• Arkansas — $871
• Mississippi — $1,034
• South Carolina — $1,328
• Tennessee — $1,333
• Louisiana — $1,415
• Oklahoma — $1,481
• Kentucky — $1,551
• Michigan — $1,670

It’s worth noting that property taxes generally reflect a home’s market value. States with higher tax burdens are often located in the Northeast, where income and housing prices are elevated. In contrast, states with lower taxes, like those listed above, typically have median home prices below the national average of $425,000 as of September 2025.

While lower property taxes can relieve some financial strain on homeowners, they may also lead to fewer public services available in those areas. Bruce Ailion, a real estate agent in Atlanta, pointed out that property taxes support essential services, including public safety, education, and infrastructure: “Property taxes fund vital municipal services that people may not realize, such as police, firefighters, schools, and parks, along with emergency responses and more.”

In response to the rising property tax burdens, lawmakers in Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas are exploring measures to provide relief. Meanwhile, Montana has already implemented property tax relief strategies.