Frank Russo Pledges Property Tax Relief and Teacher Pay Raise as Governor Candidate
Independent Florida gubernatorial candidate Frank J. Russo has pledged to address property taxes and teacher pay in his first 100 days if elected, emphasizing affordability for families and educators. He plans to expand Amendment 3 efforts and propose a constitutional amendment increasing the homestead exemption from $250,000 to $500,000, potentially benefiting up to 90% of Florida homeowners without impacting school district funding. Russo also aims for a roughly 50% increase in average teacher pay, with the goal of moving Florida into the top 25 percent nationally. His commitment was reinforced after spending time as a substitute teacher and hearing directly from educators about their challenges. Russo's campaign emphasizes 'caring capitalism,' balancing fiscal responsibility with social priorities. Russo is urging fellow candidates Byron Donalds and David Jolly to debate these issues or clarify how they would address them differently, highlighting the growing concern over rising living costs in Florida.
Topics: Affordability Florida Governor Election Property Taxes Teacher Pay