Updated 5/27/26

Tax Reform Talks in Tallahassee - What Could It Mean for Coconut Creek?

State leaders are discussing significant changes to property taxes for homesteaded properties, and those decisions could have direct effects on daily life in Coconut Creek. While details are still being discussed, one potential impact is that properties that are not homesteaded, including businesses and rental properties, could experience higher tax bills.

Why Do 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:

• Keeps you and your family safe by funding police, fire rescue, emergency response, and hurricane or storm preparedness services.
• Maintains the places you use every day like roads, sidewalks, streetlights, parks, playgrounds, and landscaping.
• Supports reliable city services such as trash collection in public areas, code enforcement, senior programs, athletic programs, special events, and customer service when you need assistance.
•  Invests in the community’s future through improvements to roads, parks, public buildings, and other projects that protect property values and quality of life.
• Helps keep the City financially prepared so services continue during emergencies, economic uncertainty, or unexpected costs without sudden service disruptions.

The cost of services continues to rise, and cities must still provide important services to the community. To continue funding these vital services, cities may need to find other revenue sources, reduce services, or postpone projects and improvements.

Did you know that the City of Coconut Creek receives only about 32% of your total property tax bill to fund many of the services residents rely on every day, including police and fire protection, emergency response, roads, parks, and other City services?

Who Would Benefit from the Proposed Tax Changes?

Over the past year, property taxes have been a major topic of discussion in Florida, with many proposals focused on providing relief for homesteaded properties, meaning homes owned and occupied as a primary residence. During the 2026 Legislative Session, the Florida House passed a property tax proposal; however, the Senate did not take up the measure before the regular session concluded. More recently, Governor DeSantis announced a special session on property taxes beginning June 1, 2026, and has proposed significantly expanding homestead-related tax relief for many Florida homeowners. While police, fire, schools, and other core services have been identified as priorities, many details remain unknown, including how local governments would replace lost revenue under any future reform.

What would be the impact if property taxes were fully eliminated for homesteaded properties?

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 property taxes are reduced for one group of property owners, the financial impact may shift to others, such as businesses and rental properties, which can ultimately contribute to higher rents, prices, or other costs.

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 taxes for non-homesteaded properties, such as business and rental properties
• 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:

• Police and fire response times
• 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 impact 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 discussions continue in Tallahassee, we will update this page with accurate, easy-to-follow information and resources.

Additional Resources

• Property Tax Virtual Town Hall Meeting (Presented by State Representative Christine Hunschofsky on February 3, 2026)
• Broward County Property Appraiser's Fiscal Impact Estimates
• Florida League of Cities Florida Formula
• Florida Homestead Study Summary of Key Findings
• Full Property Tax Study - Florida League of Cities

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.