Kathleen Passidomo voted with the Senate majority in June to send the property tax measure to the Nov. 3 ballot. The vote was 30-9. She said she voted “yes” because voters should get to decide. She’s voting No.
Taxes
Palm Coast Warns Residents About Significant Financial Impacts Tied To Proposed Property Tax Amendment
Palm Coast residents face a statewide property tax amendment on the November ballot that could slash municipal revenue by millions over two years. The city in a release emphasizes that substantial revenue losses would threaten public safety and infrastructure funding, forcing local leaders to weigh difficult budget adjustments, spending cuts, and alternative fees because no single replacement source currently exists.
Flagler Forum Exposes Deep Uncertainty and Evasions on Proposed Amendment 3 Homestead Exemptions
At a Flagler Tiger Bay Forum Wednesday evening, former Sen. Jeff Brandes warned of catastrophic local revenue losses and severe service cuts if Amendment 3, the proposal to raise the homestead exemption and sharply cut local tax revenue is approved in November. Constitutional officers voiced alarm as well, contrasting sharply with Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri, who defended the tax shift through user fees and dismissed opposition as “propaganda.”
Average Tax Bill On a Single Rental Apartment Unit Could Rise by $406 if Amendment 3 Passes
When Floridians vote in November on whether to raise homestead exemptions through Amendment 3, they may also be voting to shift more of the property tax burden onto renters, a new analysis by the center-right Tax Foundation finds.
New Poll Shows Homestead Exemption Amendment 15 Points Short of Approval
A constitutional amendment that would increase the homestead exemption to $250,000 in 2028 has 45% support among likely voters, 15 points short of the 60% it needs to pass, according to a new St. Pete Polls survey conducted for Florida Politics. Another 30% oppose Amendment 3 and 25% are undecided with less than seven weeks until Election Day.
Flagler County Property Appraiser Jay Gardner Slams Homestead Amendment 3 As a False Solution
Flagler County Property Appraiser Jay Gardner is voting against Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional amendment that would raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 next year and to $250,000 the following year, ravaging local government revenue. He warns the exemption will drastically reduce local government revenues and create an inevitable tax shift, all in answer to dubious claims of waste that Gardner ridiculed.
Florida Tax Watch Rolls Out Amendment 3 Information Website
The Florida Property Tax Resource Center offers what Florida Tax Watch calls “independent, data-driven research to make informed decisions related to Amendment 3.”
Toned Down Homestead Amendment Ballot Language Removes Ideological Claim of ‘Excessive Property Taxes’
In the new version, the title “Save our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” has been replaced by, “Increased Homestead exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non Homestead Property Assessment.” The ballot summary would now make clear the measure would increase the homestead exemption for all non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 and adjust for inflation thereafter.
Our Local Governments Are Drunk on Tallahassee’s Homestead Kool-Aid
The proposed amendment to sharply raise the homestead exemption and slash government revenue relies on vilifying government workers to appease taxpayers, and decades of hostile political rhetoric designed to dismantle public services. Even in Palm Coast and on the County Commission, politicians are prioritizing fabricated narratives of rampant waste over actual local needs. It’s a reckless strategy that will inevitably results in severe cuts and firings.
2nd Highest Burden of Bunnell’s General Fund, After Police Department, Is Debt Payment for New City Hall
The Bunnell City Commission approved its tentative property tax rate and budget without releasing the documents to the public on Monday. The commission maintained a flat tax rate for the fourth consecutive year. The undisclosed budget includes $1 million in debt payments for the new City Hall spending cuts for parks, stormwater infrastructure, and community development.
Flagler County Clerk of Court Marks Expansion of Its Central Cashiering Office
The Flagler County Clerk of Court and Comptroller opened a newly renovated Central Cashiering area, a $250,000 project that expanded the workspace by 665 square feet. The upgraded facility includes ergonomic workstations and improved security features.
Flagler Beach Budget Maintains Tax Rate for 5th Year, Deferring Looming Amendment’s Consequences
Flagler Beach City Manager Dale Martin presented a proposed general fund budget that keeps the property tax rate flat, and under Florida law represents a slight tax decrease. The city commission is cautiously preparing for a potential constitutional amendment that might significantly alter homestead exemptions. Officials also discussed adding commissioner health benefits and addressing the loss of insurance coverage for beach dune walkovers.
Flagler County Commissioners Criticize Sheriff and Clerk, But From a Desert of Budget Information
Flagler County commissioners held a frustrating budget workshop Monday amid a dearth of financial documents or a framework for clear discussion. The proposed property tax rate remains virtually unchanged. Commissioners criticized constitutional officers for failing to reduce their budgets sufficiently. Sheriff Rick Staly and Clerk of Court Tom Bexley defended their respective spending requests, pointing out cuts and savings.
Florida Sheriff’s Association Joins Other Public Safety Groups Raising Alarms Over Homestead Amendment
Public safety groups–and Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly–are warning voters about the property tax cut amendment that will appear on ballots this November. On Monday, the Florida Sheriffs Association released a statement saying they were “significantly concerned” about Amendment 3, which if passed, would increase homestead exemptions from $50,000 to $250,000 over two years.
Byron Donalds Says He’ll Reform Property Taxes Regardless of Amendment’s Fate
Likely Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds says Florida’s property tax system is getting a full rewrite next year, whether or not voters pass Amendment 3 in November.
Florida’s Property Tax Amendment: Trade-Offs and Higher Costs for Some
Florida voters in November will decide on Amendment 3 to significantly increase homestead property tax exemptions. Reducing local revenue by nearly $12 billion annually forces trade-offs across the state. Local governments may raise sales taxes, commercial rates, and utility fees or cut essential services like fire, police, and public parks to bridge massive budget gaps.
Judge Hears Challenge Claiming Proposed Property Tax Cut Ballot Title Is Misleading Political Rhetoric
A Leon County Circuit Court judge heard arguments regarding a challenge to Florida’s proposed property tax amendment as plaintiffs, who include former local government elected officials and a former Republican legislator, contend the ballot summary uses biased language to sway voters. A decision could force Attorney General James Uthmeier to revise the ballot text before mail printing begins.
Palm Coast Council Members Push to Pause New Deputy Hirings Amid Budget Tensions Over Taxes
The Palm Coast City Council reached what looked suspiciously like a tense impasse over property tax rates, public safety funding, and municipal services at a workshop this morning. The administration outlined three budget options, but council members demanded revised scenarios setting rates at rollback or rollback plus inflation. Proposal discussions included a pause on hiring new sheriff’s deputies.
Poll Shows Homestead Amendment Can Pass–If Voters Are Kept in the Dark About Consequences
New polling from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab shows Amendment 3 has a narrow path to passage on Florida’s General Election ballot this November — but one contingent almost entirely on voters not knowing what the measure would do to local budgets.
Fraternal Order of Police Latest Group to Oppose Property Tax Amendment
The Florida chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police is the latest public safety organization to oppose Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional amendment designed to provide property tax relief to homeowners but which critics allege could radically reduce revenues for local government essential services, including public safety.
Palm Coast Council Considers Deep Cuts Affecting Cops, Code Enforcement and Humane Society
Anticipating revenue losses from a proposed homestead amendment, the Palm Coast City Council capped its maximum property tax rate while weighing severe service cuts. Council members proposed reducing a request for nine sheriff’s deputies to five, eliminating funding for a school resource deputy, cutting code enforcement staff in half, and trimming animal shelter contributions. Leadership remains divided on balancing the budget without compromising core municipal services or raising property tax rates on local homeowners.
Month-Long Sales Tax ‘Holiday’ On School Supplies, Including Computers, Begins Monday
The discount holiday, first offered as a seven-day period in 1998 when sales taxes were lifted on only certain clothing valued $50 or less, was firmly put into state statutes last year as a recurring event to run throughout August.
Palm Coast Council Struggling to Match Budget Needs, Including Cops, With Deepening Revenue Crunch
The Palm Coast City Council set a higher tentative maximum tax rate for next year that nevertheless does not close a $3.3 million gap between needs and projected revenue, including nine additional sheriff’s deputies. A slowing economy and a proposed constitutional amendment could severely reduce municipal revenues by 2028. Officials are struggling to balance funding for essential public safety agreements with cost-of-living increases and recurring operating costs amid declining local property valuations.
3 Groups Formed to Oppose Homestead Amendment So Far. None Formed to Support It.
Less than four months before Floridians vote on a proposal to phase out property taxes for homeowners, there’s no organized campaign seeking to move the measure past the 60% vote required for passage. Not even the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which has long opposed placing issues on Florida’s Constitution that could be solved through the legislative process.
Poll Shows Property Tax Amendment with 64% Support
Florida’s proposed property tax amendment would likely pass if the November election were held today, with nearly two-thirds of voters in the state supporting it. But support fractures dramatically along party lines, with Republicans backing the change at nearly three times the rate of Democrats, new Sachs Media polling shows.
Homestead Tax Cut Could Cost You More, 3 Degrees Florida Says
3 Degrees Florida says it is not against property tax relief. Instead, the group is sounding the alarm that the amendment could make it harder for local governments to pay for essential services if it passes. The group’s branding draws heavily on the Titanic disaster.
DeSantis Says His Homestead Tax Proposal Would Have Been Better
DeSantis sent his original proposal to the Legislature just five days before it was scheduled to meet in a special session to take it up. The final product omits DeSantis’ proposal to include a trust fund from which the state would provide grants to local governments that lack funding in certain essential services. The governor said that with the state’s existing “massive surplus,” it was something it could afford to do.
Flagler County Commissioners Want Public to Learn How Homestead Tax Amendment Would Gut Quality of Life
If voters in November approve the proposed amendment to raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 next year and $250,000 the following year, Flagler County government would have a $28 million deficit out of its $140 million general fund next year, and a $46 million deficit in 2028, if it were to maintain current services, including fire, policing, judicial and all other government responsibilities. The county is not allowed by law to run deficits. It would have to cut services. County commissioners want the public to know what that would mean.
Palm Coast Council’s Pontieri: Why I Reject Mayor Norris’s Flawed, AI-Generated Austerity Budget Proposal
Responding to a proposed “austerity resolution” Mayor Mike Norris submitted as a “shell” for the city manager and city attorney to develop, Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri rejects the proposal as flawed and reliant on artificial intelligence. It suggests redundancies, counterproductive schedule shifts, and harmful community cuts. Real governance, the vice mayor argues, requires human diligence and council deliberations.
Two Former Florida Mayors File Lawsuit Challenging Misleading Ballot Language On Property Tax Amendment
Two former Florida mayors and a nonprofit organization filed a lawsuit challenging a November property tax amendment that would sharply reduce homesteaded property taxes. The plaintiffs allege the ballot summary illegally advocates for the measure rather than explaining its actual impact. A House staff analysis indicates the proposed homestead exemptions could reduce local government revenues by $8.4 billion annually.
Florida Property Tax Reform Is a State Power Grab at Your Local Government’s Expense
Florida proposals to eliminate property taxes threaten to dismantle decades of local home rule as state control of funding would strip decision-making authority from counties and cities, making both dependent on Tallahassee. This fiscal structural change shifts tens of billions of dollars onto a state facing its own future deficits. Ultimately, the cost burden moves to consumers and renters through alternative fees.
Palm Coast Mayor Norris Calls for ‘Austerity Budget’ as Council Grapples with Downturn and Homestead Upheaval Ahead
Palm Coast City Council members will consider an austerity budget resolution to prepare for sharp revenue losses from a proposed Florida homestead exemption amendment and this year’s slight downturn in property values. Existing city property values dropped over one percent, prompting discussions of a potential hiring freeze. Residential properties generate 90 percent of local tax revenue. Construction growth is generating enough revenue to keep the budget growing slightly.
County Commissioners Berate Some Constitutionals More Than Others Over Their Budgets as Austerity Era Begins
Flagler County constitutional officers such as the clerk of court, the sheriff and the property appraiser face a grueling budget cycle amid stalled revenues and a looming November ballot amendment to eliminate homesteaded property taxes. In an afternoon workshop today, county commissioners aggressively challenged proposed budget increases from the clerk of court and property appraiser. In response to future shortfalls, Commission Chair Leann Pennington directed the acting administrator to model sweeping 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts.
Florida’s Bathtub Hoax on Homesteaded Taxpayers
The Florida Legislature’s proposed constitutional amendment to expand the homestead tax exemption is a hoax that claims the homesteaded are overtaxed and local governments are wasteful. The proposal, if it passes, threatens to severely cripple local government budgets, starving infrastructure, emergency medical responses, social programs, and community safety initiatives. Homeowners will ultimately absorb higher out-of-pocket costs for neglected public services. The current system already unfairly shifts tax burdens onto local businesses and renters.
Commissioner Kim Carney Accuses CFO Ingoglia of Using Flagler as ‘Campaign Crutch’ as He Peddles Unproven Claims of Waste
The Flagler County Commission directed its administration to draft an official rebuttal countering claims by CFO Blaise Ingoglia, of $59 million in local government waste. The accusations rely on a misleading formula deployed statewide as a campaign tactic as Ingoglia uses counties like Flagler as a “crutch” in his campaign, Commissioner Kim Carney said. Flagler commissioners defended budget growth, citing necessary investments, including the restoration of required emergency cash reserves.
Flagler County and City Officials Warn of Severe Cuts to Government Services if Voters Approve Measure to Cut Homestead Taxes
The Florida Legislature approved a constitutional amendment ballot measure scaling back homesteaded property taxes and capping non-homesteaded property valuations. Flagler County faces a projected first-year loss of $35 million, climbing to $60 million in year two. Local administrators and elected officials warn that this shifting tax structure will trigger severe, programmatic budget cuts for essential municipal services, including parks, libraries, and animal control, and speak with dismay at lawmakers’ silence on alternative funding sources.
Property Values Fall For 1st Time In 14 Years in Palm Coast and Flagler, Excluding New Construction, Posing Tax Dilemma
Average taxable property values in Flagler County fell in 2026 for the first time in fourteen years outside of new construction. The drop signals a cooling housing market and directly impacts local government budgets. Local governments would now have to raise tax rates marginally to maintain current revenue levels. New construction remains a lifeline that prevents severe budget shortfalls and keeps total county tax collections stable overall.
DeSantis Plan to Eliminate Homesteaded Property Tax Would Hit Public Safety, Schools, Health and Local Governance
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced his plan for a homestead property tax exemption that could crimp local governments’ ability to fund schools, health care, and public safety. Simultaneously, he called for lawmakers to return to Tallahassee and address his plan in a three-day special session starting Monday.
Florida Legislative Leaders Strike Final Deal On $115 Billion State Budget, Ignoring Mismanagement of School Vouchers
House and Senate leaders reached a final deal on the state budget late Sunday night, the last step in an extended process that required a special session to complete for the second year in a row. The spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1 will be nearly $115 billion, less than the Senate’s preferred budget but not the $113.6 billion plan preferred by the House.
Governor Ron DeSantis Renews Push To Slash Florida Property Taxes Despite Republican Opposition
Governor Ron DeSantis renewed his push to slash Florida property taxes during a Monday roundtable in Brevard County. He plans to call a summer special session to put constitutional amendments on the November ballot. Former Governor Rick Scott criticized the plan due to missing revenue replacement strategies.
Diagnosing Alarming Deficit in Road Repair Bill, City Director Tells Palm Coast Council: You Did This
In a remarkably gutsy moment at the end of his presentation on the city’s deteriorating road system, Carl Cote, the city’s director of stormwater and engineering, reminded the council of how it has been reducing the tax rate for successive years since 2021. “In lieu of the rollbacks that council had done since then, if that was dedicated to resurfacing, that would be an additional $8.5 million we’d have in that program today,” Cote said. The program, in other words, would have been fully funded instead of facing a gaping deficit.
DeSantis Claims There’ll Be a Special Session on Property Taxes. Just Don’t Ask Him When.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has previously indicated that he’s holding back on offering his own proposal to reduce taxes on homestead properties until the moment is “ripe” — and it doesn’t appear that’ll be anytime soon.
In Muddled Manifesto, Mayor Norris Wants to Sell ‘Bougie’ Southern Rec Center and Cut $10 Million in Spending
In an often sharply contradictory screed at the end of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris proposed cutting $10 million from property tax revenue and suggested selling the Southern Recreation Center, labeling it a “bougie” drain on city resources. He was drawing his conclusions by relying on a dubious government spending formula from Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia even as he declared himself “happy” with last year’s budget and with the city’s fiscally conservative record.
GOP Rep. Ryan Chamberlin Launches Citizen Initiative To Eliminate Florida Property Taxes By 2028
Florida Republicans have struggled to pass property tax relief despite promises of a constitutional amendment for the November ballot. GOP Representative Ryan Chamberlin is now spearheading a 2028 citizen-led initiative to eliminate property taxes entirely as local officials express concern over lost revenue for essential services. Other states like Georgia and Ohio are similarly debating radical tax shifts.
CFO Blaise Ingoglia’s Disinformation Campaign at Local Governments’ Expense
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia is touring the state to accuse local governments of reckless overspending, but his claims rely on a simplistic formula ignoring critical economic factors like property value increases and essential service needs. Flagler County faced his unsubstantiated attacks last week. Actual budget data reveals that Ingoglia’s claims collapse under the weight of even feathery scrutiny.
Another Pass-Fail Session of the Florida Legislature: Here’s What Happened To Ten Key Issues
Significant gridlock between the Florida House and Senate left the state budget, property tax reform, and education voucher fixes unfinished. Legislators plan to reconvene in April to resolve fiscal disputes. Key successes included utility data center regulations and expanding armed campus security. Most high-profile proposals regarding medical malpractice and artificial intelligence rights failed to advance.
Florida House Votes to End All Non-School Homestead Property Taxes, But Senate Odds Remain Slim
The Republican-controlled Florida House passed a joint resolution to ask voters to eliminate non-school property taxes for homesteaded properties by 2027. The sweeping measure faces doubtful success. The Florida Senate has not introduced companion legislation and Governor Ron DeSantis prefers a special session. Democrats heavily criticized the proposal, warning that it would bankrupt local governments and defund essential local public services.
Florida House Advances Plan to Phase Out Non-School Property Taxes Despite Anguish Over Local Services
Florida House committees advanced two major property-tax proposals on Thursday, including a constitutional amendment to phase out non-school homestead taxes over ten years. While Republicans argue the move prevents local governments from treating residents like an “ATM,” Democrats and local officials warn of decimated public services. Meanwhile, the Senate has yet to release a companion plan, leaving the final form of a potential November ballot initiative in a holding pattern as leaders negotiate.
Eliminating Property Taxes in These Florida Counties Means ‘Dismemberment of Vital Services’
Local government officials statewide are wary of plans by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Legislature to slash or abolish homestead property taxes, but one group of counties is particularly worried. They are Florida’s “fiscally constrained” counties: 29 mostly rural counties with small populations, few industries and lots of agricultural or conservation land — and therefore small tax bases. Without property tax revenue, there would be very little left for roadwork, emergency services, fire protection, libraries, parks” or cultural efforts such as historic preservation and festivals.
Paul Renner Would Rollback Property Taxes and Impose Hurdles On Governments Seeking More Revenue
To Renner, who’s campaigning for governor, the Legislature should cap future taxes to ensure local government cannot grow faster than Floridians’ incomes and require a 2/3 supermajority vote of local government for any new or increased tax or fee subject to a subsequent referendum, for voters to approve or reject.