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Heads Up: Property Tax Reform FAQs

Updated 12/17/25

Tax Reform Talks Heat Up in Tallahassee — What Could It Mean for Coconut Creek?

State leaders are discussing significant changes to property taxes, and those decisions could have direct effects on daily life in Coconut Creek. This page outlines where your tax dollars are spent currently, what is being considered, and what the potential outcomes could be for residents, businesses, and the community as a whole.

Why Property Taxes Matter?

Property taxes are one of the primary ways cities fund the essential services people rely on every day. In Coconut Creek, these property taxes support:

Police, fire, and emergency response
Citywide maintenance and code compliance
Roads, water, sewer, garbage collection, sidewalks, parks, and playgrounds
Recreation programs, fitness facilities, and citywide events
Long-term planning, growth management, and infrastructure replacement

When property taxes decline, but the cost of providing these services continues to rise, cities must find other ways to maintain operations and keep up with infrastructure needs. Without stable revenue, the result is fewer resources for current services, reduced ability to plan for future demands, and limited ability to expand or improve services.

Who Would Benefit from the Proposed Tax Changes?

Several of the proposals being discussed focus primarily on homesteaded properties—homes that owners occupy as their primary residence. These properties already benefit from exemptions and caps on annual assessment increases. Key considerations include:

If property taxes were fully eliminated for homesteaded properties, Coconut Creek would lose an estimated $15.8 million each year.
Homesteaded property owners might see tax savings, but cities would still need to fund essential services, which could result in higher service fees or assessments for everyone.
When a major revenue source is reduced for one group, the cost can shift to others—such as businesses and rental properties—usually through increased rents and prices.

What Happens If Property Taxes Are Reduced or Eliminated?

The cost of running a city does not disappear when a funding source is reduced. Instead, the pressure shifts. Possible results include:

Increased fees or special assessments
Reduced service levels
Delayed repairs, maintenance, or upgrades
Slower response to emergencies or storms
Postponed investments in long-term infrastructure

In everyday terms, residents may experience changes in:

City maintenance and overall appearance
Road and infrastructure repairs and improvements
Hurricane and emergency preparedness and response
Park and facility upkeep
Recreation programs, events, and community activities
Planning for future growth and replacement of aging infrastructure

A Community Conversation

Tax policy is complex, and the impacts can reach far beyond a single line on a bill. While tax reductions may appear straightforward, the effects often show up in the services and amenities residents use every day. Our goal is to provide clear, factual information so you can understand what is being discussed and how it may affect Coconut Creek.

As proposals develop in Tallahassee, we will continue updating this page with accurate, easy-to-follow information and resources.

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Turnpike and Sawgrass

There are several projects under design that all relate to Florida’s Turnpike, the Sawgrass Expressway, and the interchange of the two roads.

These projects are broken into several different projects, but all have concerning impacts on the City of Coconut Creek. With regard to Turnpike, the project study for the mainline Turnpike is nearing completion and the City's concerns have not been addressed. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, held Public Hearings for the Turnpike expansion project for the section from Atlantic to Wiles Road. Staff attended to voice the City’s concerns, and many residents were also in attendance.The project website, Turnpike595toWiles.com has transcripts for the hearings.

The City has major concerns that we have submitted to the Turnpike regarding the mainline Turnpike project. Our concerns include: the Turnpike’s insistence that the road project needs to shift to the west- negatively impacting the South Creek area; the need for ten lanes when traffic volumes only warrant an 8-lane cross-section; the placement and height of the noise walls; and non-receipt of the amended plans from the Turnpike. The City has tried to seek commitments from the Turnpike related to these important issues, to no avail, so the City filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court in August, 2025.Please continue to stay involved and share your concerns as we continue to challenge the expansion and develop a plan of action.

The City also has significant concerns regarding the Sawgrass expansion project due to its close proximity to several Coconut Creek neighborhoods and the potential for increased noise, vibration, and environmental impacts on those communities. View the project website for more information.

People wishing to submit written or verbal comments/questions please contact the project manager, Jazlyn Heywood, P.E., via email at Jazlyn.Heywood@dot.state.fl.us or by phone at (407) 264-3298.