First Coast Connect: The 'Fee State' of Florida?

After the Legislature hastily approved a ballot initiative to slash property taxes, Florida is just beginning to reckon with the costs. If approved by 60% of the voters in November, the measure would almost instantly slash the budgets of cities and small towns by more than $8 billion, according to a new nonpartisan analysis by the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference. That loss would compound over time, as additional property tax cuts — including for business and out-of-state homeowners — are phased in. Though the Revenue Estimating Conference is supposed to evaluate the cost of state proposals before they’re approved, the after-the-fact analysis is the first detailed examination of local impacts. Investigative reporter Jason Garcia breaks down the story behind the numbers, including the service cuts and fee hikes that would likely result. Guest: Jason Garcia, investigative reporter, publisher of the Seeking Rents website and podcast