A growing number of organizations are raising concerns that Amendment 3, set for the November ballot, could have far-reaching consequences for Florida’s quality of life.
The measure seeks to increase the homestead property tax exemption to $250,000 by 2028. Yet while the savings may entice homeowners, warnings persist that the collective cost would outweigh the individual savings.
The American Planning Association Florida Chapter, the Florida Engineering Society, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida, the Florida Association of County Engineers and Road Superintendents (FACERS), and the Florida Fire Marshals & Inspectors Association (FFMIA) all came together Thursday under the Vote No on Amendment 3 umbrella.
The Planning Association said the proposal “would significantly reduce a source of local revenue without identifying a sustainable replacement to fund infrastructure, public services, and responsible growth.
The Florida Engineering Society and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida warned of limiting local ability to fund “needed investments in public infrastructure.”
FACERS cautioned that the tax break 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.
In expressing their opposition, they join the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association, the Florida Professional Firefighters, the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, the Florida Sheriffs Association, 1000 Friends of Florida, the Florida Rural Economic Development Association and Florida Recreation and Park Association.
“Amendment 3 is a Trojan horse,” said Edie Ousley, spokesperson for the Vote No on Amendment 3 campaign. “It will gut public safety, bankrupt rural counties, shift tax burdens from the wealthy onto renters, business owners and large landowners, leave parents who homeschool their children with limited access to libraries and parks, cause unchecked growth and pothole-laden roads.”
The Florida Policy Institute has also flagged concerns about hurricane recovery. If Amendment 3 passes, local governments could find themselves with fewer resources to respond to storms — at a time when the Federal Emergency Management Agency is considering lowering its reimbursement rate from 75% to 50%. That combination could leave counties with less money on hand for emergencies and less federal support to replenish those funds, raising questions about how communities would manage back-to-back disasters.