Florida's Save Our Homes makes property tax reform less urgent for some residents

Power Play: A series of special reports examining the push to reduce or eliminate property taxes in Florida.

There is talk in Tallahassee of giving new help to homestead property owners, more than 30 years after Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment to restrict increases in real estate tax assessments on owner-occupied residences.

Back in 1992, the pitch to voters was summed up by the amendment’s author, then-Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson. He promised that the so-called Save Our Homes amendment would protect older homeowners from being forced to sell their residences because of high property taxes.

Fast forward 33 years. Once again, Sunshine State retirees—known to be regular voters—are being trotted out as legislators weigh giving the Florida electorate anoth