Voters Decide On $250,000 Home Tax Cut Amid Service Cuts Warning
Public safety leaders in Florida predict longer emergency response times if Amendment 3 passes, a measure that would raise the homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028.
By Olivia Miller ·
Florida voters will choose on November 3 whether to approve a major change to property taxes that emergency services leaders say could strain local budgets. The measure, known as Amendment 3, seeks to increase the homestead property tax exemption from its current $50,000 cap to $150,000 in 2027, and then to $250,000 in 2028.
Officials in several counties warn that passing the amendment will force cuts to essential services. They predict longer response times, reduced service levels, and the merging of small police and fire departments across the state. The proposal requires 60 percent of the vote to become law.
Local government leaders have joined forces with groups of firefighters, sheriffs, police officers, and emergency medical technicians to oppose the measure. They argue the tax cut is too steep for rural counties to absorb without compromising public safety infrastructure. These opponents believe the revenue loss will be most severe in areas that already operate with limited resources.
Nick Gradia, an Escambia County firefighter and leader for the Florida Professional Firefighters, cited recent hurricane response efforts to illustrate the risk. He noted that Escambia County assisted neighboring Santa Rosa County after Hurricane Isaias made landfall as a Category 3 storm in the Panhandle in early October. Gradia explained that Santa Rosa County contains several small independent fire districts that lacked the resources to handle the storm response alone.
Gradia questioned what happens if local teams must tighten budgets. He asked if larger assistance teams would lose the ability to cross county lines for help. He added that if that mutual aid disappears and the local system cannot meet its own demand, the consequences for residents remain unclear.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose office developed the proposal, supports Amendment 3. The Florida Republican Party and the Florida Realtors also back the measure. DeSantis has traveled the state for more than a year advocating for lower taxes for homestead owners. In a post on X, DeSantis stated that people need to keep more of their money instead of sending it to local government.
The vote will determine whether Florida expands its property tax relief for homeowners starting in 2027. If Amendment 3 fails, the current $50,000 exemption cap will remain in place for the 2027 and 2028 tax years.
