JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is launching an investigation into the City of Jacksonville’s property tax collections, citing a 57% increase since 2020.
In a letter sent to Mayor Donna Deegan’s office on July 28, the state agency claims that the rate of property tax growth has far outpaced both inflation and population increases.
A property tax bill includes several line items, but two major factors determine how much you pay: the millage rate and the assessed value of your home. While the millage rate in Jacksonville has remained relatively flat, assessed values have surged, pushing tax bills higher.
“While I’m not a tax expert, you can go to the tax website and pull this up. It’ll tell you exactly how your tax bill is broken down,” said Mario Gonzales, president of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. “The county has a millage rate, and that rate is multiplied by your assessed value. That’s where most of the increase is coming from.”
DOGE’s investigation is focusing specifically on the city’s assessed millage rate. Other line items, such as voter-approved taxes for schools or infrastructure, are not determined by the city.
A real-world example
Consider a non-homesteaded home in Duval County:
- 2020 Market Value: $225,000
- 2025 Market Value: $365,000
- Value Increase: 62%
That same home saw a 43% increase in property taxes over four years, with the annual bill rising from $3,160 in 2020 to $4,500 in 2024.
In another case of a non-homesteaded home:
- 2020 Market Value: $275,000
- 2025 Market Value: $386,000
- Value Increase: 40%
Similarly, this home saw a 42% increase in property taxes, with the annual bill increasing from $4,045 in 2020 to $5,750 in 2024.
Homestead exemption helps
A separate example highlights the benefits of the homestead exemption, which can reduce a home’s taxable value by up to $50,000 and limit annual increases in assessed value to 3%.
In that case:
- 2020 Market Value: $290,000
- 2025 Market Value: $442,000 (52% increase)
- Tax Increase: About 15%, or $425 over four years
In another case:
- 2020 Market Value: $179,000
- 2025 Market Value: $290,000 (62% increase)
- Tax Increase: About 16%, or $250 over four years
This difference is largely due to Florida’s “Save Our Homes” cap, which helps shield homeowners from dramatic tax hikes as property values rise.
Want to check your own tax history?
You can view past property tax bills and assessed values by visiting the Duval County Property Appraiser’s website and entering your address. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Parcel Tax Records” to compare your recent bills.
According to the Duval County Property Appraiser’s Office, about 30% of property tax revenue collected in 2024 came from homesteaded residential properties.
The majority of the remaining revenue came from non-homesteaded residential and commercial properties. Those properties are not protected by Florida’s 3% cap on annual increases in assessed value, meaning their tax bills can rise significantly as property values increase.
