Florida Officials Clash Over Amendment 3 Property Tax Cuts
Miami-Dade officials endorse Amendment 3 to raise homestead exemptions, while the Florida Policy Institute warns the measure will drain millions from vital local services.
Four constitutional officers from Miami-Dade County, including Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and Property Appraiser Tomás Regalado, have endorsed Amendment 3, a proposed referendum to increase Florida's homestead property exemption cap from $50,000 to $250,000. Supporters, including the Florida Realtors Association, argue the measure provides essential relief for homeowners facing an affordability crisis and that local governments must find efficiencies to accommodate the cuts.
Opponents, led by the Florida Policy Institute, warn the amendment would create massive budget deficits for municipal services. On September 29, the institute launched the Local Funding Cuts Calculator to illustrate these impacts, projecting that Orange County could lose $825 million and Hillsborough County over $971 million in local funding over the first two years. Critics, including Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, describe the measure as a "payday loan scam" that threatens public safety, infrastructure, and emergency services.
Financial projections vary by region, with Miami-Dade County estimating a first-year revenue loss of $359 million and Broward County projected to lose over $300 million by the second year. While supporters claim public safety will remain a priority, critics point to a contradiction where some endorsing officials have recently requested budget increases for their own offices. The amendment requires 60% statewide support to pass in November.
