Florida voters will decide this fall whether to increase the state’s homestead property tax exemption — a change supporters say would give homeowners more relief from rising property taxes.
But renters would not receive the exemption directly, raising questions about how the proposed tax changes could affect the local services they rely on.
St. Petersburg renter Bobo Critchlow, a community organizer and co-campaign director for “Vote No on Amendment 3,” said the measure could hurt working-class residents.
“We’re very adamant about this campaign because this campaign is going to take services directly from the working-class people that rely on them so much,” he said.
The proposed amendment would increase the homestead exemption for qualifying homeowners to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.
It also would reduce the annual assessment-growth cap for non-homestead property, including rental properties, from 10% to 5%.
Critchlow said that could mean less property tax revenue for local governments.
“The local governments are going to make one of two decisions. They’re either going to supplement the revenue by increasing fees and other taxes, or they are going to just cut services altogether,” he said.
Charles Phillips, an organizer with the St. Pete Tenants Union, said renters are often left out of conversations about property taxes and public services.
“Tenants are very often left out in conversations about public services because they’re not seen as deserving as homeowners sometimes,” he said.
Phillips also worked in disaster recovery after hurricanes Helene and Milton. He said local funding can play a role in helping communities respond to disasters, including assisting renters whose homes are damaged or destroyed.
But Phillips said renters should not expect the proposed tax changes to automatically translate into lower monthly rent.
“Rents will not decrease just because property taxes go down,” he said.
Supporters say the amendment would provide additional tax relief for homeowners and could benefit Florida’s housing market.
Opponents argue local governments could lose revenue and may have to make up the difference through other taxes or fees, or by reducing services.
For renters, the impact would be indirect. They would not receive the homestead exemption, but they could be affected by changes to local government revenue and the services funded by property taxes.
Amendment 3 must receive at least 60% of the vote to pass. If approved, the changes would begin in 2027.