TALLAHASSEE — As he calls for increasing the homestead exemption or possibly even eliminating property taxes, Gov. Ron DeSantis this week suggested such a move could be balanced by targeting spending by visitors to Florida.

“Tax the tourists. Tax some of the foreigners,” DeSantis said Tuesday, responding to a reporter’s question during an appearance in Palm Bay.

“You have the ability in some of those areas that draw a lot of people to shift the tax burden away from your own people to people that are not residents of Florida,” DeSantis continued. “I think that would be a better tax system than constantly having people pay higher property taxes.”

Skeptics of whacking property taxes have argued that the state would have to boost sales taxes to make up for lost revenue.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Daniel Perez came out Wednesday with a proposal to decrease the state sales-tax rate from 6 percent to 5.25 percent. Perez, R-Miami, told reporters such a reduction would include a decrease in the state’s commercial lease tax and that he remains open to asking voters in 2026 to cut property taxes.

DeSantis, who has voiced opposition to increasing sales taxes, also said Tuesday he’d be willing to work with “fiscally constrained” rural counties to offset the effects of property tax cuts.

“They don’t have the same luxury that a Broward County would have or a Miami-Dade County would have when you have people that are flooding down there,” DeSantis said.

He added that to economically “juice” rural areas, he’d support efforts to land auto manufacturers. He pointed to areas that have been hit by recent hurricanes, such as North Florida’s Big Bend region.

“I would say, pay no tax for 10 years, like no corporate tax if you’re starting a business, if you’re doing manufacturing there,” he said.

On Wednesday, DeSantis posted online that “Hospitality is an essential part of Florida’s success story” to mark Tourism Day at the Capitol.