The greater Tampa Bay region cannot keep pace with growth if it loses the resources needed to maintain the roads, utilities and public services residents rely on every day. Yet that is the risk voters will consider on Nov.
The greater Tampa Bay region cannot keep pace with growth if it loses the resources needed to maintain the roads, utilities and public services residents rely on every day. Yet that is the risk voters will consider on Nov. 3. Amendment 3 would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes and cut the cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. While the proposal may sound like straightforward tax relief, it would reduce critical property tax revenue for cities and counties without providing any new dedicated state funding to replace it.
Reliable garbage collection, manageable traffic, accessible parks and attainable housing do not happen by accident. They require communities to anticipate growth and invest the right resources at the right time. Florida planners help local leaders understand how growth will affect residents and what infrastructure and services will be needed to keep communities functioning. When I was a planning student, our mantra was “planners put the puzzle pieces together.” That work means turning data into informed decisions, so communities are prepared not only for today’s needs, but also for the demands of the next decade and beyond.
Tampa Bay’s continued growth places even greater pressure on systems that already need attention. Every new home and business depends on maintained roads, reliable water and sewer lines, and stormwater systems with enough capacity to protect neighborhoods. More people also increase the need for parks, public safety and other resources. Maintaining these systems and services helps keep Tampa Bay a place where people want to live and businesses can thrive.
I urge Florida voters to vote no on Amendment 3. Tampa Bay needs reliable planning and resources to maintain strong communities today and prepare for future growth. The need for roads, infrastructure and essential services will not decline after Election Day. As costs continue to rise, we cannot make those needs even harder to meet.
Allara Mills-Gutcher, AICP, is president of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association.
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