“We oppose the current Amendment 3 because it creates far too much uncertainty about how local governments would continue to fund law enforcement, fire rescue, emergency medical services, and other critical public safety functions. Public safety should never become collateral damage with uncertain fiscal consequences.”
“The Florida Sheriffs Association is significantly concerned with Constitutional Amendment 3, which potentially allows Tallahassee to control your local budgets, creates longer law enforcement response times, limits communities’ abilities to provide road repairs and stormwater removal — these are just a few of things voters deserve to be aware of.”
“Amendment 3 promises property tax relief, but state economists project it would cut local funding by roughly $5 billion in year one and $12 billion by year five — money that pays for police and fire protection, road repairs, parks, libraries, water infrastructure, affordable housing, and conservation.
1000 Friends of Florida opposes Amendment 3 because the modest savings for some homeowners would be outweighed by the lasting harm to the services and quality of life that make Florida home.”
“Amendment 3 would significantly reduce the locally controlled funding that supports parks, recreation, and other essential public services, diminishing the ability of cities and counties to maintain parks, preserve natural resources, offer recreational opportunities, and invest in the quality of life that makes Florida’s communities strong, resilient, and economically competitive. The Florida Recreation and Park Association encourages Floridians to vote No on Amendment 3.”
FACERS encourages “a ‘NO’ vote on Amendment 3 because of concerns that substantial reductions in recurring local ad valorem revenue could constrain the long-term planning, maintenance and delivery of county and municipal roads, bridges, stormwater systems and other critical infrastructure.”
“…FFMIA cannot support a constitutional amendment that could significantly reduce the stable funding necessary to provide essential fire prevention and life safety services without identifying a sustainable replacement funding source. Fire prevention programs including inspections, plan reviews, code enforcement, public education/community risk reduction, and fire investigations are often among the first public safety services impacted during periods of fiscal constraint. Reductions in these services increase risk to our communities and ultimately jeopardize the safety of Florida’s residents, visitors, businesses, and first responders.”
“Amendment 3 would jeopardize funding for essential public safety, infrastructure, and community investments while shifting more of the tax burden onto businesses and other property owners. These changes would make it more difficult for rural communities to compete for jobs, attract new investment, and grow their local economies. The Florida Rural Economic Development Association supports thoughtful tax reform-but not at the expense of the services and investments that help rural Florida thrive.”
The Federation of Manufactured Homeowners of Florida is opposing Amendment 3, arguing that many residents who own their manufactured homes but lease the land underneath them would not receive a direct reduction in their property taxes “The benefits of that tax change will not benefit manufactured homeowners because we own the home, but we don’t own the property,” Calabrese said. “So it’s a commercial property tax while we pay taxes. We will get no reduction in our taxes,” said John Calabrese.
“The Florida Engineering Society (FES) and American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC Florida) have significant concerns about the potential impact of Constitutional Amendment 3 on the ability of local government to make needed investments in public infrastructure to protect and enhance the general well-being of Floridians.
“According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Florida communities are already weighing cuts to infrastructure projects and considering higher fees for parks and libraries.
“Moreover, a drastic loss of revenue could jeopardize municipalities’ ability to repay bonds already issued for infrastructure. All three credit rating agencies – Moody’s , Fitch and Standard & Poor’s – have warned about the unintended consequences of the loss of revenue, such as weaker creditworthiness that would drive up the cost of borrowing.”
“The Florida Engineering Society (FES) and American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC Florida) have significant concerns about the potential impact of Constitutional Amendment 3 on the ability of local government to make needed investments in public infrastructure to protect and enhance the general well-being of Floridians.
“According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Florida communities are already weighing cuts to infrastructure projects and considering higher fees for parks and libraries.
“Moreover, a drastic loss of revenue could jeopardize municipalities’ ability to repay bonds already issued for infrastructure. All three credit rating agencies – Moody’s , Fitch and Standard & Poor’s – have warned about the unintended consequences of the loss of revenue, such as weaker creditworthiness that would drive up the cost of borrowing.”
Amendment 3 would severely limit the ability of local governments in Florida to effectively manage growth and protect natural resources. Its passage would further erode home rule authority of city and county governments.
City and county governments are the entities that make local development decisions and, in some places, manage a large percentage of local conservation land. Amendment 3 would have the state tell local governments how they can collect and distribute the property tax revenue that they need to function.
“The Orlando Economic Partnership is significantly concerned with Constitutional Amendment 3 and its potential negative impacts on essential services provided by local government, as well as other adverse impacts on issues important to voters, including public safety, transportation, economic growth, and housing affordability. While tax reform may be needed at all levels of government, OEP believes the proper forum for policymaking of this magnitude should be through the Florida Legislature, not amendment to the state’s constitution.”
“Amendment 3 will significantly reduce locally controlled revenue available to Florida’s cities and counties. Without a clear and sustainable replacement for that revenue, the amendment will place additional pressure on funding for public libraries and other essential local services. For libraries, reduced local resources will mean fewer hours, reduced staffing and programming, fewer materials and technology resources, and will seriously reduce access to services for the communities that depend on them.
“For these reasons, the Florida Library Association joins the Florida Professional Firefighters, Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Fire Chiefs Association, Florida Recreation and Park Association, and other organizations in opposing Amendment 3.”
The League of Women Voters of Florida recently adopted a formal position in opposition to Amendment 3 ahead of the Nov. 3 elections. The League of Women Voters of Florida President Jessica Lowe-Minor issued the following statement on the League’s adopted position.
“Floridians love their communities, and the services local governments provide are a major reason why. We love to take our kids and grandkids to the local park. We love to watch them play baseball and soccer at the municipal sports field. We love our public libraries. We love driving on well-maintained county roads. We love being safe because our police officers and firefighters have the resources they need to do their jobs. And we don’t want to put our communities and the services we love at risk because of a confusing ballot amendment.
“The League of Women Voters of Florida has long opposed efforts to use the State Constitution to limit or steer revenue. We’ve also been consistent supporters of home rule by municipalities and counties, because we believe that local entities closest to the people should be able to make decisions based on what their citizens want.
“As the general election approaches, Floridians need reliable, nonpartisan information to ensure they are ready to vote on this important issue. Between now and November 3, the League of Women Voters of Florida and our members will work to explain Amendment 3 to our fellow voters so that everyone is fully aware of the implications. With so much on the line, it’s critical that voters know what’s at stake and are prepared to make their voices heard.”
“The Florida Association of Special Districts strongly opposes Amendment 3 because it would significantly reduce a key source of local funding without providing a sustainable replacement. Special districts are single-purpose units of government that deliver the services Floridians depend on every day, from fire rescue and emergency response to children services, water systems, water/flood control, parks, libraries, hospitals, public health mosquito control, and community infrastructure. Amendment 3 would severely limit the ability of special districts to provide and improve these critical services, placing additional pressure on the communities they serve.”
Florida welcomes nearly half a million new residents each year. Effective community planning is critical to helping cities and counties manage growth, providing for safer roads, shorter commutes, reliable emergency response, parks and neighborhood spaces, protection of natural resources, and natural disaster resilience.
As proposed, Amendment 3 would significantly reduce a source of local revenue without identifying a sustainable replacement to fund infrastructure, public services, and responsible growth.
REFORMA de Florida, the state chapter of the National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, believes public libraries are essential to all – especially for Florida’s more than 6.8 million Latinos.
The ballot for Amendment 3 does not mention public libraries in the list of services to be funded by property taxes. Since the early 20th century, Florida’s public libraries have depended on property taxes to support the work they do in their communities.
“Making Florida stronger and ensuring every Floridian can build a life they can be proud of starts with supporting the communities that help lift up our neighborhood public schools. Amendment 3, which is on the ballot in November, is not the solution to Florida’s growing affordability crisis. It’s a tax shift that taxpayers across the state will end up footing the bill for. And it’s one that we cannot afford.
“Cities and counties will see a significant reduction in overall funding for vital services, such as public libraries, parks and recreation, mosquito control, cuts to 911 dispatchers, EMT and fire services, road and bridge maintenance and repair, clean water, and hurricane preparedness to name a few. Not to mention the significant number of agreements between cities/counties and school districts for safety, after school programs, recreational fields and more, which could have a significant impact on already underfunded neighborhood schools. Cities and counties will be forced to decide between making cuts to services, charging residents higher fees for each service, or increasing the sales tax to backfill the loss in revenue.”
Sierra Club Florida joins organizations, nonprofits, and municipalities across the state in opposing Amendment 3, which will effectively gut the budgets of local governments in Florida.
The consequences of this amendment will be devastating as property taxes are a critical source of local revenue that supports county and city parks, land preserves, and other public spaces, as well as public safety, schools, and hospitals.
If Amendment 3 passes, municipalities will no longer be able to fund stormwater management and runoff programs, flood mitigation, and fire prevention and abatement at the level they do now.
Sierra Club Florida stands against this proposed amendment and urges Floridians to vote NO on Amendment 3 this November.
A joint statement from the Tampa Bay Chamber and Ybor Chamber: As the voice of the Tampa Bay business community, we oppose Amendment 3 as an approach to addressing property tax reform and affordability challenges in Florida. While Florida’s property tax system warrants thoughtful, comprehensive review and reform, Amendment 3 does not provide a responsible or sufficiently defined path to achieving meaningful relief. We believe this is the right question but the wrong solution.
Among the significant questions that warrant further consideration are the definition and protection of core government services, the long-term fiscal impacts on counties and municipalities, and how potential changes in property tax revenue could affect the ability of local governments to maintain services and make community investments.
A joint statement from the Tampa Bay Chamber and Ybor Chamber: As the voice of the Tampa Bay business community, we oppose Amendment 3 as an approach to addressing property tax reform and affordability challenges in Florida. While Florida’s property tax system warrants thoughtful, comprehensive review and reform, Amendment 3 does not provide a responsible or sufficiently defined path to achieving meaningful relief. We believe this is the right question but the wrong solution.
Among the significant questions that warrant further consideration are the definition and protection of core government services, the long-term fiscal impacts on counties and municipalities, and how potential changes in property tax revenue could affect the ability of local governments to maintain services and make community investments.
The national nonprofit focused on creating parks, conserving public land and expanding access to outdoor spaces is the latest org to speak out on Amendment 3, and like the preponderance of other groups firing out statements in the lead-up to Election Day, it’s sounding the alarm.
“Trust for Public Land opposes Amendment 3 as it would decrease local funding for parks, trails, wildlife habitat and outdoor spaces, and reduce the quality of life for communities across Florida,” said outgoing Democratic state Rep. Lindsay Cross, the organization’s Florida State Director.
“The drastic cuts inflicted if Amendment 3 passes would reduce local funding available to create new parks and trails, protect habitat for wildlife, improve access to the water, and maintain and bolster existing green spaces. TPL stands with local leaders from counties and cities across Florida who oppose this measure.”
After an intensive review of Amendment 3’s potential impacts on the community, the Seminole County Chamber’s board of directors unanimously voted to oppose it.
With this resolution, the Seminole County Chamber joins multiple other business organizations, such as the Orlando Economic Partnership and the Tampa Bay Chamber, in opposing Amendment 3.
“We heard from many members who are significantly concerned about their economic future if this passes,” says Rebekah Arthur, president & CEO, Seminole County Chamber. “While our membership includes many large employers, those with the most concerns were the small businesses and nonprofit organizations that simply could not withstand such a dramatic change in our tax structure.
“Of course, our chamber wants tax relief for our businesses and residents, and we certainly hope the Florida Legislature will revisit this issue carefully and diligently to provide relief,” Arthur added. “This proposal is simply too drastic and too sudden and the effects could seriously hurt Seminole County’s high standards for our quality of life.”
One of the key reasons to oppose are the significant cuts to services that maintain that quality of life. For instance, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma has stated the amendment could require a 20 percent cut to the Sheriff’s Office budget for county residents and businesses. In addition, there are significant concerns about funding for social services and for economic development efforts.
Those efforts have proven to create high-wage jobs that provide customers to the small businesses throughout the county.
“Seminole County has a tremendous record of being a center of technology, particularly fintech, advanced manufacturing, simulation and financial services,” Arthur says. “With costs still rising for businesses throughout the region, now is not the time to stop those very successful efforts.”
On August 27, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Miramar Pembroke Pines Regional Chamber of Commerce (our parent chamber) formally adopted an opposition position on Amendment 3, which will appear on the November 2026 general election ballot. This post explains how we got here, what our position is, and what it means for our members and community.
What Amendment 3 Would Do
Amendment 3 proposes to raise Florida’s homestead property tax exemption from its current $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments beginning in 2029. It would also authorize the Legislature to pursue full elimination of homestead property taxes through future general law. School district property taxes are explicitly protected and are not affected by the exemption increase. For the amendment to take effect, it must receive at least 60% voter approval this November.
Why the Chamber Is Opposed
We want to be straightforward with our members about the nature of our position. The Chamber does not oppose property tax relief for homeowners, and we recognize that the school district carve-out addresses a serious concern that was raised during our review. Our opposition is focused on a specific structural problem with the amendment as written.
Amendment 3 proposes a reduction in local government revenue estimated at $4.6 billion in 2027 and $8.4 billion in 2028, with no companion legislation establishing any mechanism to replace that revenue. There is no transition plan, no replacement funding framework, and no local government assistance program embedded in the amendment or passed alongside it. The state trust fund that was originally proposed to help cities and counties absorb the financial impact was removed before the final version passed.
That gap matters enormously to our business community. The services our local governments provide (fire protection, emergency response, road maintenance, permitting, code enforcement, and local economic development support) are funded through the property tax revenue this amendment would eliminate. And the most likely mechanisms for replacing that revenue, including higher local sales tax rates, increased millage rates on commercial and non-homestead properties, and expanded non-ad valorem special assessments, would shift the financial burden directly onto businesses and renters.
The Chamber formally opposes Amendment 3 on the November 2026 general election ballot.
Our Government and Legislative Affairs Committee conducted a thorough review of the final proposal, evaluating its implications for the business community, local government operations, and the overall health of the regional economy.
The Chamber recognizes that Amendment 3 would offer meaningful relief to Florida homeowners. We do not oppose the goal of reducing the property tax burden on Florida residents. Our opposition is rooted in a structural deficiency in the amendment, which proposes a major reduction in local government revenue without establishing a mechanism to account for that loss.
We believe that structural reforms of this magnitude require comprehensive analysis, a defined revenue replacement framework, and a transition plan that protects both residents and the business community before being submitted to voters. Amendment 3 does not meet that standard.
The Miramar Pembroke Pines Regional Chamber of Commerce encourages its members and the residents of our community to vote NO on Amendment 3 this November 2026. We remain committed to advocating for tax policy that
supports homeowners, businesses, and the long-term economic health of our region, and we will continue to
monitor and engage on this issue as it develops.
When Florida voters go to the polls this November, they will decide on Amendment 3—a complex package of property-tax changes with significant consequences for homeowners, businesses, local communities, and community service organizations across our state.
The Greater Sarasota Chamber agrees that Florida’s property-tax system deserves serious examination. Homeowners are feeling the pressure of rising housing costs and taxes. Those concerns should not be dismissed.
However, while the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce supports lower taxes and a lower tax burden, it must result from thoughtful property-tax reform and meaningful efforts to address affordability in Florida. But we also believe major changes to Florida’s tax structure should be carefully analyzed, fiscally responsible and transparent about who ultimately pays the bill.
That is where we have significant concerns with Amendment 3.
This is not a partisan issue. It is a business and fiscal issue.
Amendment 3 is the wrong approach to property-tax reform. The Sarasota Chamber therefore urges our members, businesses, and community to vote NO and consider the amendment’s long-term effects on the business community and local government services.
“One of the Chamber’s primary concerns is the amendment’s projected impact on local government and special district revenues. Projections presented through Florida TaxWatch’s Property Tax Resource Center estimate an initial statewide revenue reduction of approximately $4.9 billion in its first year and increasing to roughly $11.8 billion by FY 2031-2032, with no clearly identified replacement revenue source. When revenue declines, communities must still fund essential services. Local governments and special districts may be forced to increase fees, reduce services, defer infrastructure investments, or shift more of the tax burden to commercial, industrial, and rental properties. Higher permitting fees, increased operating costs, delayed development reviews, and reduced economic development programs could make our region less competitive.
“The consequences extend well beyond business. Reduced revenues can affect police and fire services, roadway maintenance, stormwater infrastructure, workforce housing initiatives, parks, youth programs, and other services that contribute to our quality of life and economic prosperity. Employees and families who depend on these services may ultimately bear the burden of decisions made without a full understanding of their long-term effects.
“This is not a question of whether property tax reform should occur. It is a question of whether Florida should make permanent constitutional changes before completing the careful analysis such a signifi cant decision deserves. The Chamber believes voters should educate themselves, review the facts, and consider both the intended benefits and unintended consequences of Amendment 3.
“Property tax reform is simply too important to rush. We should allow Florida’s established review process to work before making a decision that could impact businesses, employees, taxpayers, and communities for generations.
“Vote informed. Know the impacts.”
The Jacksonville Civic Council opposes Constitutional Amendment 3, which would sharply reduce
services that Jacksonville’s residents rely on every day, including parks, libraries, roads, and drainage.
Police and fire leaders from across Florida have voiced major concerns about the strain Amendment 3
would place on public safety. Our analysis supports their conclusion that the proposed amendment
could lead to longer police and fire response times and impair our ability to recruit and retain the first
responders we rely on to keep our community safe.
The Jacksonville Civic Council is committed to working closely with state and local policymakers –
including the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission – to ensure we have the most efficient and
fairest possible tax system. We believe thoughtful tax reform can effectively address affordability
concerns for residents as well as provide a supportive environment for business growth, while at the
same time protecting public safety and vital public services. The work of the Commission, which gets
underway next year, is the appropriate forum to ensure we meet these objectives.
VoteWater, a South Florida-based clean-water advocacy group, is warning Floridians that Amendment 3, the Homestead Tax Exemptions, Property Assessments, and Spending Restrictions Amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot, could have a devastating impact on clean water and Florida’s natural environment.
VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart said Everglades restoration, wetland protections and other vital services could be affected.
“Property tax dollars help the state pay its 50-50 share of CERP projects, flood control, stormwater treatment area operations and more,” said Smart. “This won’t affect projects already funded like the EAA Reservoir, but could impact future restoration projects. Crucial work could remain undone.”
Smart also noted that deferred maintenance has already been cited as a growing concern by SFWMD officials; if Amendment 3 passes the problem could become even more acute.
The impact on local government programs could be even more destructive, Smart said. Local governments use local tax dollars to pay for parks, stormwater management, water quality projects, reef maintenance and other vital services that could go unfunded. And communities’ ability to plan for future growth could be crippled if Amendment 3 forces cities and counties to cut staff.
To fill the revenue hole, local governments will likely be forced to raise other taxes, implement fees or increase existing fees — or scale back important programs that matter to taxpayers.
“The cost of Amendment 3 is just too high for Florida’s waterways and natural environment,” said Smart. “One way or another, all Floridians would pay for it.
Florida is facing an affordability crisis as housing, rent, utility, and other costs continue to rise. Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive approach that provides meaningful tax relief for homeowners, renters, commercial property owners, and businesses.
Although well-intended, Amendment 3 benefits only homeowners with homesteaded property. As proposed, the Amendment leaves businesses and a large segment of the workforce without relief and exposes everyone to the risk of higher costs. For that reason, the JAX Chamber opposes Amendment 3 on the November ballot.
Approximately 40 percent of Duval County residents and one-third of Florida residents rent their homes and would receive no direct relief under the Amendment. Businesses and commercial property owners would also be excluded from the Amendment’s primary benefit.
At the same time, cities and counties would still need to fund essential services. To replace lost homestead property tax revenue, local governments could reduce services, add fees, raise tax rates on non-homesteaded property, increase the property tax millage rate or use a combination of such measures. As a result, renters, businesses, and commercial property owners ultimately could bear a greater share of the cost.
A significant change in Florida’s tax structure and the resulting impact on how local governments are funded requires careful, fact-based analysis of both its benefits and its consequences. Amendment 3 does not provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating its effects across Florida’s broader tax system or preventing unintended consequences and potential cost shifts.
The JAX Chamber therefore opposes Amendment 3 and supports a comprehensive, equitable approach to tax reform that considers the needs of all Floridians and the long-term fiscal health of state and local governments.
VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 3 TO SAFEGUARD FUNDING FOR PROTECTING SPRINGS AND CONSERVING LANDS
At first glance, Amendment 3 may sound like a simple property tax cut. But there’s a lot more at stake. Here’s how it could impact the future of the Everglades.
Amendment 3 would reduce the property tax revenue available to local governments and special districts, including water management districts. The South Florida Water Management District relies on these dollars to help fund critical work across the Everglades ecosystem including:
For the Everglades, less funding means less capacity to protect our water, wildlife and wetlands and slower progress on restoration efforts that Floridians have spent decades investing in.
That’s why we’re joining an unusually broad coalition of voices — including Audubon Florida, 1000 Friends of Florida, Sea Turtle Conservancy, sheriffs, hospitals, libraries and even the fiscal watchdog Florida TaxWatch in raising concerns.
FLORIDA NONPROFIT ALLIANCE STATEMENT ON AMENDMENT 3
Florida Nonprofit Alliance supports meaningful property tax relief for Floridians. However, we do not believe this proposed constitutional amendment is the right approach.
While reducing the tax burden on homeowners is an important goal, this amendment raises significant concerns about its long-term impact on local communities, and the services residents rely upon. The proposal does not provide sufficient clarity about how local governments would replace lost revenue and continue supporting public safety, infrastructure, parks, libraries, and other community priorities.
Florida’s nonprofit sector works every day to address community need, often in partnership with local governments. We believe property tax relief should be pursued through thoughtful, targeted, and sustainable solutions that strengthen communities rather than weaken them. For these reasons, Florida Nonprofit Alliance does not support the proposed amendment and encourages Floridians to consider its long-term implications while exploring more effective approaches to providing property tax relief.
Marianna, FL – Today, Opportunity Florida, the economic development support organization for the rural communities located in twelve Northwest Florida counties, announced its opposition to Amendment 3, the property tax measure on Florida’s November 3 ballot.
Ten of the counties are totally rural based and considered fiscally constrained according to the state’s measurement standards. Opportunity Florida’s rural counties depend on reliable local revenue to maintain the services and infrastructure that support job growth. Amendment 3 would strip away that stability, reducing funding for public safety, transportation, and community development while shifting more of the tax load onto employers and property owners who drive our regional economy.
For rural Northwest Florida, this amendment would weaken competitiveness and limit the ability to attract and retain investment. Opportunity Florida supports tax policy that strengthens rural communities, but we cannot support measures that undermine the essential services they rely on to grow. Opportunity Florida opposes Amendment 3.
“Florida’s rural communities succeed when they have the tools to invest in their future,” said Opportunity Florida Executive Director Richard Williams. “Amendment 3 would jeopardize funding for essential public safety services, infrastructure and community investments while shifting more of the tax burden to businesses and other property owners. These changes would make it more difficult for rural communities to compete for jobs, attract new investment and grow their local economies.”
Contact: Richard Williams, Executive Director | (850) 633-2732 | richardw@opportunityflorida.com
APWA Florida supports thoughtful, data-driven approaches to property tax reform that considers both taxpayer affordability and the long-term sustainability of local infrastructure and public services. However, Amendment 3 does not adequately balance these considerations and therefore, APWA Florida does not support Amendment 3.
Reliable local funding is important for maintaining and operating roads, bridges, stormwater systems, drainage, and other public facilities that Floridians depend on every day. Reductions in local funding will make it harder for cities and counties to maintain existing infrastructure, keep up with growth, plan for future needs, and procure services before small problems become larger and more costly.
These challenges will affect residents when local governments are unable to properly maintain the public assets and services their communities rely on. This will lead to higher repair costs, service disruptions, and delays in needed improvements. APWA Florida supports local governments’ need for stable and predictable funding to be able to continue providing safe and reliable public services.
APWA Florida represents public works professionals serving communities throughout the State of Florida. For these reasons, APWA Florida encourages Floridians to understand the potential impact of Amendment 3 on local infrastructure and public services before voting in November.
Florida Constitutional Amendment 3Amendment 3 is a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution that will appear on the November 3, 2026, general election ballot. It includes provisions affecting Florida’s property-tax system, including changes to the homestead exemption, assessment increases for certain non-homestead property, and the use of certain local ad valorem tax revenues. These provisions are relevant to stormwater management because local governments use a variety of funding sources to plan, operate, maintain, and improve stormwater infrastructure and address flooding and water-quality needs. FSA is releasing this Informational Statement to help readers understand these considerations and the potential relationship between public-finance decisions and local stormwater programs. FSA encourages readers to review the official ballot language, fiscal analyses, and other publicly available materials and make their own decisions. |
Marianna, FL – Today, Opportunity Florida, the economic development support organization for the rural communities located in twelve Northwest Florida counties, announced its opposition to Amendment 3, the property tax measure on Florida’s November 3 ballot.
Ten of the counties are totally rural based and considered fiscally constrained according to the state’s measurement standards. Opportunity Florida’s rural counties depend on reliable local revenue to maintain the services and infrastructure that support job growth. Amendment 3 would strip away that stability, reducing funding for public safety, transportation, and community development while shifting more of the tax load onto employers and property owners who drive our regional economy.
For rural Northwest Florida, this amendment would weaken competitiveness and limit the ability to attract and retain investment. Opportunity Florida supports tax policy that strengthens rural communities, but we cannot support measures that undermine the essential services they rely on to grow. Opportunity Florida opposes Amendment 3.
“Florida’s rural communities succeed when they have the tools to invest in their future,” said Opportunity Florida Executive Director Richard Williams. “Amendment 3 would jeopardize funding for essential public safety services, infrastructure and community investments while shifting more of the tax burden to businesses and other property owners. These changes would make it more difficult for rural communities to compete for jobs, attract new investment and grow their local economies.”
Contact: Richard Williams, Executive Director | (850) 633-2732 | richardw@opportunityflorida.com
