The Florida State Fraternal Order of Police have released a statement opposing Amendment 3, a ballot initiative which would widely slash property taxes statewide over several years. Their police union, the second largest in Florida, joins Florida Professional Firefighters in raising concerns over public safety funding if property taxes are eliminated.
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.
“Public safety should never become collateral damage with uncertain fiscal consequences,” said FOP President Jeff Stinson on Friday. The text of Amendment 3 requires local governments to use the property taxes that would remain to fund public safety, among other necessities such as education and infrastructure. Stinson and the FOP believe there isn’t a clear plan to ensure law enforcement funding isn’t affected by the ensuing loss of revenues if Amendment 3 passes.
The amendment “creates far too much uncertainty about how local governments would continue to fund law enforcement, fire rescue, emergency medical services and other critical public safety functions,” Stinson continued.
The Florida legislature passed 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.
Again, another article that is somewhat misleading. If this bill passes the people’s vote. Property taxes WILL NOT be eliminated 100% for everyone. There are certain requirements that have to be met in order for someone not to pay property taxes. Also the property taxes will not just be removed from the qualified people’s bill all at once. I believe a percentage will be next year and the rest would be the following year.The departments that are complaining are the ones that have over paid leaders that don’t do their jobs, but want to continue to keep ripping off the tax payers with their salaries. Just in Flagler alone there is $59M dollars that can not be accounted for over the past 6 years that was collected from property taxes. So where did that money go? The school tax and a few other things will continue to be charged to all property owners on a different bill every year.