Florida Professional Firefighters, a labor organization representing over 31,000 firefighters in Florida, has released a statement speaking out against a proposed amendment that would greatly reduce property taxes. Amendment 3 would drastically increase the amount of home value eligible for a homestead tax exemption over the next several years.
Concerns have arisen since the amendment was approved by the Florida legislature over the funding of emergency services if Amendment 3 passes. Local governments receive much of their revenue through property taxes, and so most municipalities would likely be forced to make significant budget cuts if the initiative passes. Some have worried this could affect law enforcement, EMS, and fire among other services.
“We believe tax relief and strong public safety can coexist,” the FPF said in their statement. “Unfortunately, this amendment does not provide a clear path to achieving both. Until there is a reliable plan to provide the revenues necessary to support fire protection, EMS, and disaster response, we cannot support a proposal that could jeopardize the services Floridians depend on every day.”
The Florida legislature passes a bill placing Amendment 3 on the ballot earlier this year. It would require a 60% majority approval from Florida voters to be added to the state constitution. The initiative passed 75-26 in the state House and 30-9 in the state Senate.
Flagler County’s two state legislators, Senator Tom Leek and Rep. Sam Greco, both voted in favor of the ballot initiative. Gov. Ron DeSantis initially championed property tax relief, but has since said he wouldn’t actively support the measure in its finalized form.
Former Leon County Commissioner Bryan Desloge is leading Vote No on 3, has also emphasized the perceived risks to public safety funding. “As a former county commissioner, I know first-hand the bills for public safety, roads and bridges, stormwater protection and even hurricane response don’t go away,” DeSloge said. “The consequences of Amendment 3 will shift those bills, causing higher rent, more expensive everyday purchases, costlier first homes, and many small businesses that can’t absorb an increase in commercial property taxes.”
Still, the amendment has its legions of supporters. Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, a vocal critic of what he considers wasteful spending by local government, touts Amendment 3 as a necessary tax break. “The only people who are complaining about it are the people who actually have to cut back,” Ingoglia said. “We are on the side of the taxpayers here, right? We’re not on the side of a government who thinks that you are an endless ATM.”
The text of Amendment 3 does address the funding of key local government functions such as public safety. The measure “[r]equires local governments to use remaining property taxes solely for core public needs including public safety, education and schools, infrastructure, and natural resources”.
