Public safety groups 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.
They’re the latest in a wave of resistance against the measure, joining the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Professional Firefighters, the Florida Fire Chiefs Association and several prominent county sheriffs in the state, who warn the tax cut could affect funding to firs responder services in Florida.
The amendment “potentially allows Tallahassee to control your local budgets, creates longer law enforcement times, limits communities’ abilities to provide road repairs and stormwater removal – these are a few of the things voters need to be aware of,” the FSA statement reads.
Ballot initiatives need 60 percent of the vote to pass in Florida. If approved, Amendment 3 will would hike the homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028, but the portion of property tax bills that pay for school schools would be excluded from the increased exemption.
“I support meaningful property tax relief for Flagler County residents and Floridians, but it cannot come at the expense of reliable, responsive, and effective public safety,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said today in a statement to FlaglerLive, specifying that he was addressing the issue personally as Flagler County’s sheriff rather than as the Sheriff’s Association vice-president (to which he was elected last month).
“The voters across Florida need to understand the unintended consequences of Amendment 3, including increased state control over local budgets, the potential for longer law enforcement and fire-rescue response times, and a reduced ability for communities to fund essential services such as road repairs, animal control and stormwater management. Flagler County is ranked the 39th safest county in America and crime is down over 54 percent since 2017, despite being the sixth-fastest growing county in Florida. This is because we can be a proactive law enforcement Agency with modern technology. I stand ready to work with elected leaders on true tax reform to ensure the great state of Florida and Flagler County continue to be the safest place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Lawmakers passed the ballot measure in a special session this spring after it was drafted by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. DeSantis had campaigned on the issue of slashing property taxes for more than a year, saying tax bills had spiked amid higher assessments in recent years and local governments didn’t do enough to cut revenue.
But after GOP legislative leaders amended it to exempt taxes levied to fund schools, DeSantis said that while he’ll vote for it, he won’t campaign for the measure.
Meanwhile, city and county officials across the state have warned voters local services provided to residents will suffer if the proposal passes.
Public safety is the largest budget item in 80 percent of Florida’s communities, according to the Vote No on 3 campaign.
Several county sheriffs in the state have already expressed their concerns about Amendment 3, including Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and Staly, who was very critical of the amendment in extended remarks to the Palm Coast City Council in mid-June. (See: “Sheriff Staly Blasts Proposed Homestead Property Tax Amendment as ‘Politics’ That ‘Screw Around With the Cities and the County’.”)
Gualtieri said the property tax ballot amendment is not the proposal that DeSantis first floated to voters and questioned why there were no protections for public safety funding.
“Is Tallahassee now going to control half the budgets and have to fund the local services for medium-sized and smaller governments? What’s going to happen with that? There’s no plan,” Gualtieri told the News Service of Florida.
Gualtieri said about 85 percent of public safety budgets are salaried positions.
Judd, who also chairs the State Immigration Enforcement Council, said the tax cut could have “unintended consequences” if passed.
“In its current form, I fear the proposal will devastate counties’ and cities’ ability to deliver vital services, including emergency services, to our citizens,” he said.
In July, the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, which represents 24,000 law enforcement officers across the state, released a statement saying they opposed Amendment 3.
“Public safety should never become collateral damage with uncertain fiscal consequences,” the police union said in a statement.
The Florida Fire Chiefs Association also said it could not support the ballot amendment in its current form.
“Constitutional Amendment No. 3 creates substantial uncertainty regarding the future funding of fire protection, emergency medical services, and disaster response without identifying a sustainable replacement revenue source,” their statement said.
–Ana Goñi-Lessan, News Service of Florida
GHS says
here goes all the fears that they’re trying to instill in the public if amendment three is passed just like with Covid the BS that we were told to believe that turned out not to be true. I am voting for Amendment “3”
Laurel says
And what exactly is the plan in its entirety? Exactly how will it work?
YankeeExPat says
So what was the Covid B.S. that was due to the Total confirmed deaths: of 1,238,563 American people. ?
95,206 of which were fellow Floridians.
Joe D says
I’m kind of concerned that Sheriff Staly didn’t INITIALLY voice concerns about the maintenance of roads and repairing local infrastructure , with the original DeSantis proposed Homestead tax exemption version that excluded Police/Fire/Schools from budget cuts ( some of the most expensive budget items for local government). He was essentially RADIO SILENT in his concerns until the LEGISLATURE’s proposed version puts his and the Fire Department’s EXPLODED BUDGETS ( way above inflation rates or percentages of population growth) suddenly in the budget cuts potential CROSS HAIRS!
Public Safety is important, however I would like to review the seemingly over extension budget for the newest and most expensive equipment and systems available, which could rival that of a MUCH LARGER CITY. That combined with the recent creation of high salary upper management positions : deputy director, assistant chief, Chief Program Coordinator positions that suddenly have become necessary for the Sheriff’s office to function. REALLY?
I fully agree that if the HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION amendment passes in the next election, it won’t be just animal control, and code enforcement services which will be curtailed! And it won’t make voters very happy with the long term results to meet a balanced budget.
jed says
it seems like when people get to a high Office they somehow gotta have an assistant to their position and assistant to their assistant and so long it’s bullshit. It’s duplication of positions the higher up delegating their responsibilities to people lower than they are thus creating another position I’ve seen it in the 20 years I worked for the city complete bullshit. This is not the city of New York Washington DC Newark, New Jersey is Palm Coast.
Truthseeker says
It’s the classic local political playbook: claim total credit for a low crime rate that demographic math guarantees, while framing any effort to curb government revenue as an existential threat to safety.
When you strip away the press releases, the core issue is simple:
The Demographics do the heavy lifting on keeping crime low.
The Taxpayers foot the bill for high-tech surveillance, expanded staffing, and costly real estate missteps.
The Institution fights every tax cut to protect its ever-growing baseline budget.
Cisco says
The elected officials are scared that they are going to lose the goose that lays the golden eggs AKA,the taxpayers and they are also now plotting to force the taxpayers to pay public service fees in some areas, can we really trust these people to take care of us,they are only interested in saving their cash cows,us!
Make America Free Again says
Does this mean less funding for the “Constitutional” Sheriff’s mass community surveillance and Flock cameras? It’s a trade off but anything to defund the freedom killer cameras and the eyes behind them get’s my vote. I’ll deal with the potholes.
JC says
What happens if the potholes kills your vehicle?
Waste not want not says
Scare tactics ??
Is Staley afraid his blank check is being taken away ?
Maybe he will not get as many extra toys ?
Vote the amendment in and the sky will not fall. Government will just have to come back to reality
Don’t forget it’s our money they waste
Stephen Smith says
Thank you for pointing this out. I did not realize that The state of Florida was going to take over all law enforcement. That should be cost effective.
JC says
But the State Government is not being cut, but everyone else is.
jed says
you’re absolutely correct waste not want remember what they said when we were going to hit the turn of the century the computers were going to blow. This was going to come darkness. Everything nothing happened run this county like you run your household they tell you do not spend over what you taken if people done what they did they will be a lot more foreclosures in this county.
Laurel says
Y2K was a completely different thing. You don’t know the difference?
Tony says
If Staly is so concerned why doesn’t he complain to the source – DESANTIS
John Stove says
Oh please…..he is so scared he is not going to get the extra deputies and squad cars he wants. The City of Palm Coast does a really poor job with the money we give and now that they realize that we aren’t going to take it anymore we are forcing them to become more efficient by limiting tax dollars.
Throwing more and more tax dollars at the issues (property taxes keep going up) will not solve anything if they aren’t used effectively.
Vote YES on the amendment and force them to go on a tax payer diet and get more efficient and effective in what they do.
The sky is not falling
Dennis C Rathsam says
Every year the Sheriffs needs grow like mushrooms in the dew. His desire for more toys & more men increase every year. Maybe if he learned how to manage money better he wouldn’t need more employees. Why does he use deputy’s to Sunday church services? COP can handle sitting in the car, with the lights flashing. Im sure they can handle letting the people leave after services . Look how much money can be saved…..
TR says
The number of deputies needs to increase every year because more and more people are moving into Flagler County. With more people comes more calls into the sheriff’s office. If the department didn’t get more deputies every year because of growth and it takes to long for a deputy to get to ones house. Then the same people complaining now will complain that it takes to long for a deputy to respond.
Mark S says
The government will get their money regardless. They will draft an ordinance. Hold the first public hearing at which citizens will complain. Hold a second public hearing at which citizens will complain. Then pass the ordinance 5-0 and citizens will still pay.
The dude says
MAGA morons enthusiastically cheer for billions and billions wasted on vanity projects like ballrooms, gilded statues, 747 retrofits for a “flying palace” that can’t safely fly POTUS, reflecting pools, new granite columns, wars of choice, private armies of masked goons… but incessantly whine about pennies wasted closer to home… no wonder things are as they are, both nationally and locally. And things are as they are specifically because THIER votes over the last couple of decades.
Robjr says
Here it comes, predictable and right on time.
The politics of fear!
Give me what I want or the boogey man will get you.
Laurel says
It is amazing to me, that people will vote for a plan that does not explain, or openly plan for its results.
Repeal and replace, right?
Y’all are like the guy who walks across the street without looking, and acts like no car would dare hit him.
Good luck with that.
Pogo says
The winner. Thank you.
Pogo says
6 Comments @11am
… the score:
Reason: 1
Infantile: 5
And so it goes; all together now
Laurel says
You got it, Pogo.
Trump and DeSantis are ten year olds, and Flagler County now attracts the same, like minded.
Don’t think, just rally.
Ed P says
Flagler County’s 2017-2018 budget was $186.5 million. 2026-2027 is $333 million
Remarkably IF the 2017-2018 budget was adjusted strictly to account for cumulative inflation and population growth it would be 332.7 million. Surprisingly close.
2017-2018 Flagler county sheriff’s budget was $23.72 million. 2026-2027 $51.97 million. Remarkably if the 2017-2018 budget was adjusted using those same parameters as the rest of the county ( excluding schools), a $42.31 million dollars would be the expected budget. The $9.66 million annual increase is substantially more than expected.
However,
there was some “catch up”needed for policing, so suggesting there must be at least $9 million of room for major reductions may not be true. Sheriff Staly’s budget and operation are largely in line with surrounding counties. Eventhough his budget surged 135% from 2016, we did see over a 50% drop in county crime. Maybe some operational changes will be implemented to save money.
Easy to identify the conundrum.
Small incremental savings and cuts are probably possible but the massive deficits coming their way, if, the amendment is passed, leaves only 1 path forward. Reduced head count. Leaving those surviving employees in the county’s employment to do more with less.
Voting yes for the amendment means the “ beatings will begin and continue until the moral improves.”
At least the vocal minority can stop claiming everyone is overpaid, because those survivors will all have to work like 3 people. A blind man, a dead man and a fool.
With all the common sense and facts presented, the Santa Claus bill is still going to pass.
Can’t fix stupid.
Skibum says
Polk Co. Sheriff Grady Judd, the outspoken, most conservative, drumph supporting maga republican sheriff in the entire state is encouraging voters to vote NO, saying it is a terrible idea that Tallahassee came up with, without thinking it through or specifying exactly how to replace critical funding for local law enforcement that would disappear if this scheme passes.
In addition, the entire state sheriff’s association, comprised of every sheriff in FL is recommending a NO vote. Do you think they are all in cahoots with each other??? Hell no! Many of them have been in law enforcement for multiple decades, and they know how such a scheme would negatively impact public safety and hurt crime-fighting efforts.
We don’t need less cops on our streets and in our communities… we need MORE! This ill-conceived, poorly written amendment by those idiots in Tallahassee is mainly a huge power grab by state officials because it takes away a lot of local decision making within local governments and gives it to the state. That in itself is a HORRIBLE but intentional way that the state is trying to dictate how local governments govern and fund local services that everyone uses.
VOTE NO!
Sarah says
If you would have told me in 2020 after George Floyd, that in 6 years Florida would be defunding public safety, selecting who would be taxed based off of their home value, and wanting rich to pay their “fair share”… I would tell you that the far Left won Florida.
But alas, here we are.
This proposed tax bill is just going to shift the power from local governments to a centralized location at the state level.
Republicans are for this and Democrats are against it. We seem to be having another party swap in 2026!
Also, while we are on the discussion, can those who’s home values are less that $250,000 still use the line to government employee’s, “well I am a tax payer and pay your salaries!”
I’m putting on my bingo card for 2030 that
Florida will pass an income tax.