This November, Floridians will vote on Amendment 3, a constitutional amendment that would put homestead property taxes on a path to elimination.
You've probably heard a lot about it already, but here's what you should really know:
Like every Florida constitutional amendment, Amendment 3 needs 60% approval to pass. If approved, it would:
- Raise the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 on non-school taxes, beginning January 1, 2027.
- Raise it again to $250,000 on January 1, 2028, then automatically increase that amount each year to keep pace with inflation.
- Constitutionally require the Legislature to set a schedule for fully eliminating homestead property taxes, with no deadline and no replacement revenue named.
- Make anyone establishing Florida residency after December 31, 2026 wait five years to qualify for the larger exemption.
And here's what it doesn't include:
- No replacement for the revenue it eliminates. The amendment doesn't say how critical services will be funded.
Property taxes are the single largest source of local funding in Florida, and in most cities, the single biggest thing they pay for is emergency services.
Statewide, more than 56% of city general-fund spending goes to police, fire, and EMS, and in at least 85 Florida cities, public safety spending already exceeds every property-tax dollar collected.
Removing the revenue doesn't remove the cost. Police still patrol. Firefighters still respond. Roads still need paving. The services still have to be paid for. The question if Amendment 3 passes is how will these essential services be funded at levels we’ve all grown accustomed to.
Get the Full Picture
We built a page that walks through it all. How your property taxes actually work, what the amendment changes, where the costs go, and more.
Check it out here: http://localvoicesunited.com/property-tax
No spin, no jargon. Just what's on your ballot and what it means for the place you call home. Read it, then share it with a neighbor. Because an informed voter is a smart voter.
