The Florida Sheriffs Association president says the group has concerns about a proposed amendment to cut property taxes because there’s “no set plan.”
Last week, the Florida Sheriffs Association released an official statement saying it was “significantly concerned with Constitutional Amendment 3” and warning about the potential effects if it passes.
Soon after, a Leon County judge ruled the state must rewrite the ballot languagebefore voters see it.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, president of the sheriffs association, spoke with Tom Hudson on “The Florida Roundup” and explained how the measure could affect the communities served by his department.
“If the property tax, this Amendment 3 goes through, automatically I will lose 10 to 20 percent of the revenue for my law enforcement,” Woods said.
According to Woods, about 80 percent of the budget available to his office goes toward personnel. At the same time, he said his department is currently “125 deputies short” and would need another 350 officers over the next couple of years because of population growth.
For Woods, the issue is complicated because he is both a homeowner who would benefit from lower taxes and a sheriff responsible for providing public safety.
“I also know that in order for us to function in Marion County, we have to have certain services, and that means you got to be taxed. That means you have to pay your dues,” Woods said. “And when you have growth, infrastructure has to be kept up.”
According to the Florida Association of Counties, Marion could generate nearly $60 million less in property tax collections in 2027.