Like many Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast residents, I moved to Florida for the lifestyle it offered: Yes, snow-free winters, but also scenic landscapes, abundant wildlife right in my neighborhood and even more in community natural areas, as well as gorgeous lakes, rivers, and beaches to enjoy with family and friends. We recognized the beauty of the area when we first bought land in 1988, and have witnessed the enormous changes to the area.
This lifestyle and natural wealth are made possible by public investments in parks, water supply infrastructure, flood control, and wetland restoration. And it is all protected by growth management— the important oversight by cities and counties that seeks to steer development to smart growth instead
of sprawl. The fight against sprawl has become increasingly difficult in recent years as state involvement in growth management has waned, leaving cities, counties, and water management districts as the last defense for our communities.
Amendment 3 on this November’s ballot poses a dire threat to local governments’ abilities to preserve our way of life: If Amendment 3 passes, local government budgets statewide will be slashed by $5 billion in the first year alone. By year 5, cities and counties will face an annual shortfall of $12 billion.
Palm Beach County and its municipalitieswould bear an extraordinary share of this statewide reduction: $417 million in the first year, and $1.07 billion by FY2031-32 (according to Florida TaxWatch).
These reductions will force cities and counties to make major cuts or eliminate programs entirely, including critical initiatives like libraries, parks, stormwater projects, mosquito control, and more. What if these cuts close local library branches? What if reduced emergency services mean longer rescue times? From sheriffs to hospitals to fiscal responsibility groups like the nonprofit Florida TaxWatch, Floridians are sounding the alarm.
As the board chair of Audubon Florida, our state’s oldest statewide conservation nonprofit, I am particularly worried about sprawl, loss of our beloved parks, and the threats of algal blooms and worsening water quality.
Amendment 3 will hurt Florida's ability to protect its resources
Poorly planned development is gobbling up habitat for wildlife, while straining water supplies, snarling traffic, and forever changing the character of our communities. Major budget cuts will reduce city and county growth management staff dedicated to reviewing development proposals and preventing sprawl.
Palm Beach County residents understand this better than most. State statute requires local governments to review development proposals on a tight timeline, and if they fail to meet the deadline, the applications are automatically approved. By definition, fewer growth management staff will either mean a reduced number of applications they can review in time, or reduced rigor with which they review them—neither of which is good news for Floridians.
Floridians and our wildlife both depend on parks for our quality of life. Amendment 3 will reduce the funding cities and counties have available to protect and manage parks for people and for wildlife, while making the creation of new parks out of reach. Parks aren’t just a matter of natural wealth either—studies demonstrate time and again that private property values near parks and natural areas are consistently higher than those that are not.
Finally, Amendment 3 will impact local government investments in stormwater management that protect our waterways from runoff. And it will also impact the budget of water management districts that manage the complex system of pumps, canals, and wetland reserves that make our quality of life possible. Florida’s identity is steeped in its iconic watersheds like the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, and the Indian River Lagoon. Everything from our drinking water to the River of Grass depends on sufficient funding for water management districts.
Since the Legislature placed this sweeping amendment on the ballot during a three-day special session this June, these unintended consequences and more have been revealed. No one relishes paying taxes, which is why Florida’s constitution already empanels the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission every 20 years to evaluate Florida’s tax structure and propose sophisticated solutions. The commission, conveniently, is scheduled to convene in 2027. Floridians don’t need to enshrine this ill-conceived one-size-fits-all Amendment 3 in the constitution to see tax reform.
Talk to your friends and family. Stand up for Florida and our quality of life. Vote "NO" on Amendment 3.
Carol Colman Timmis is the Board Chair for Audubon Florida. and a resident of Palm Beach Gardens.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Amendment 3 will hurt what brings people to Florida | Opinion
