Of the three constitutional amendments on the November ballot, Amendment 3 has captured the most attention. If the amendment gets 60% approval or more, it would increase homestead exemption for all non-school
taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 and adjusts for inflation after that. Persons who become Florida residents after December 31, 2026 will receive existing homestead exemption and will qualify for the new benefit in five years.
The amendment reduces the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. It requires counties and municipalities to use property taxes solely for public safety, education, infrastructure, bond debt service, natural resources, employment retirement benefits and administration costs. Other expenditures may be approved by local officials unless prohibited by state law.
The amendment has become controversial and has drawn concern from county and muncipal officials and statewide associations who fear the amendment, if approved, will reduce funding and force localities to use fees or other taxes upon non-homesteaded properties to pay for services their communities have come to expect.
The Palm Beach Post has compiled assessments on the amendment's impact by community leaders, local and state officials and readers, which we hope will bring greater clarity on the issue as voters begin to cast their ballots.
How will Amendment 3 affect Gardens residents?
The following answers are from Arienne Panczak, finance administrator for the city of Palm Beach Gardens: What Amendment 3 means for Palm Beach Gardens police, fire, fees
Amendment 3 could cut Wellington revenue by $7.2M, manager warns
The following answers are from Wellington's Village manager Jim Barnes: What Amendment 3 means to PBC, Florida. Each city's impact explained
How Amendment 3 could cut $26M from Children's Services Council
The Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County (CSC) appears on your property tax bill because it is an independent special taxing district that has the authority to levy a property tax countywide. The following answers are from the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, which supports more than 60 programs that serve children and families: How Amendment 3 could cut $26M from Children's Services Council
Why Florida property insurance is the key issue in governor's election
Skyrocketing property insurance cost is now the issue du jour in the Florida gubernatorial election with the candidates sparring over how to solve Florida's broken system and a new poll showing it a top concern of homeowners.
The statewide survey of 1,511 homeowners found they prioritized property insurance crisis over property taxes. Read more: Why Florida property insurance is the key issue in governor's election
Florida property tax vote consequential and controversial | Opinion
Changing the way state and local governments collect, handle and spend property tax revenue is huge. It is a vote that should not be taken lightly. Read editorial by Douglas C. Lyons: Florida property tax vote consequential and controversial
Floridians should ask what's next if Amendment 3 passes | Opinion
Florida's firefighters are asking voters to understand Amendment 3's consequences before Election Day and to protect public safety services. Read column by Wayne "Bernie" Bernoska : Floridians should ask what's next if Amendment 3 passes
Lawmakers took time and care to come up with Amendment 3 | Opinion
The amendment may have already affected your tax dollars as many localities have cut unnecessary projects, consolidating job duties and questioned recurring spending. Read column by Peggy Gossett-Seidman: Lawmakers took time and care to come up with Amendment 3
Amendment 3 will hurt what brings people to Florida | Opinion
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. Read column by Carol Colman Timmis: Amendment 3 will hurt what brings people to Florida
Amendment 3 won't improve Florida's tax structure | Opinion
The question voting homeowners have to ask themselves is not just what they might be "saving" but what it will cost in terms of the services that will no longer be available. Read column by Kelly Skidmore:Amendment 3 won't improve Florida's tax structure
Delray Beach's cautionary tale an Amendment 3 warning | Opinion
Amendment 3, which would sharply expand the homestead exemption and reduce the property-tax base for cities and counties, would be far more consequential. Read column by Rob Long: Delray Beach's cautionary tale an Amendment 3 warning
Property tax vote, a boon for spending cuts | Opinion
The real question is not whether revenues will grow more slowly, but how the City responds. Should we create new fees and taxes, or should we find savings within our existing budget? Read column by Tom Carney: Property tax vote, a boon for spending cuts
Palm Beach Post readers speak out on Amendment 3
These following Letters to the Editor were submitted to The Palm Beach Post Opinion Page. The Palm Beach Post wants to hear your opinion − conservative, liberal and all points between. Letters must include the writer's name, address and daytime phone number. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length, and become property of The Palm Beach Post. We ask that you limit your letters to 200 words. To send a letter, email to letters@pbpost.com, or fax it to (561) 820-4728. You can also send it via snail mail to: The Palm Beach Post, 2751 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33405. Whether the topic's growth and development, traffic, the environment, or government spending, we want to hear from you.
A pox on all three amendments:
All three of the Florida constitutional amendments have the same state-power-grab stink to them. If you understand the phrase “power of the purse,” you know the state is attempting to take power away from your community. If you want to change the tax structure and tax rate, that can be done at the local level. You don’t need some state bureaucrat telling you how to manage your money. Read more: Post reader cries foul on all three ballot amendments
City leaders should stop the Amendment 3 whining
Regarding Amendment 3, Boca Raton Mayor Andy Thomson stated at the Tower Club: "We will have to make tough decisions if it passes in order to make sure that we are living within our means." At the same event, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis stated: "We're going to have to make some tough choices [if this passes]." This is outrageous. Individual households all have to live within our means. Read more: Post reader laments Amendment 3 whining from city leaders
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: What is Amendment 3? Impact to Palm Beach County and Florida explained
