9 Actions Florida Should Take to Help Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Ian

1.     Postpone tax notices and waive penalties or interest for late tax filings in affected areas

2.     Extend the date for residents to take advantage of the tax discounts they would normally receive for paying property taxes and special assessments in November and postpone or defer the deadline for property tax installment payments

3.     Protect individual and business taxpayers from the risks for notices that they will likely not receive because their home or business addresses is not accessible anymore

4.     Issue no new audits in severely impacted areas, extend the statute of limitations and postpone existing audits that haven’t reached the assessment stage because these can’t be responded to while entire communities are still recovering

5.     Create procedures for fairly estimating taxes which can’t be calculated because records have been destroyed by the storm, moving away from the current method which significantly overestimates activity if no records are available

6.     Initiate procedures to offer payment plan assistance for late taxes, rather than resorting to the standard collection methods, like liens, levies, or bank freezes

7.     Retroactively apply the recently passed law that provides property tax refunds for residential property rendered uninhabitable as a result of a catastrophic event

8.     Provide tangible personal property relief and allow n on-residential properties rendered uninhabitable to receive property tax refunds

9.     Get Congress to pass a Disaster Tax Relief Act that includes provisions from past packages, including elements such as an Employee Retention Credit, an enhanced casualty loss deduction, and other relief provisions

Other Resources

Florida TaxWatch Statement on Hurricane Ian Recovery

Community Involvement

The Voter Guide for the City of North Port’s May 13, 2025 Referendum

City of North Port's May 13, 2025 Referendum Report Cover

The City of North Port, Florida's second fastest growing city in the United States, faces significant challenges from rapid urbanization, population growth, and ongoing recovery from Hurricane Ian's devastating impact in 2022. This Florida TaxWatch report examines the implications of the May 13, 2025 special election referendum, which asks voters to decide on several critical municipal issues.

After a failed November 2024 referendum that would have allowed the City Commission to issue debt for emergency response and public safety projects, the Commission has returned to voters with separate items for individual consideration. The referendum includes five questions: authorizing debt issuance for emergency response without voter approval; removing residency requirements for City Clerk and Attorney positions; issuing up to $115 million in bonds for a new police headquarters facility; authorizing $14 million in bonds for a solid waste transfer station; and approving $17 million in bonds for wastewater treatment facility improvements.

The report analyzes each referendum question in detail, exploring the financial implications, arguments from supporters and opponents, and potential consequences of approval or rejection. It emphasizes that North Port's aging infrastructure, combined with its explosive growth and susceptibility to severe weather events, creates unique challenges for municipal governance and infrastructure financing. Florida TaxWatch offers this independent analysis to help voters make informed decisions about the City's proposed capital facilities and emergency response capabilities.

This voter's guide provides crucial context about North Port's current situation, including its recovery from Hurricane Ian, the City's debt management policies, and the potential impact of these votes on property taxes and utility fees. As one of Florida's fastest-growing communities, North Port faces critical decisions about how to fund infrastructure needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Meet the Author:

Bob Nave
Bob Nave
Senior Vice President of Research
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