By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Florida voters approved Amendment 3 on Nov. 3 with about 62% support, according to unofficial results, clearing the 60% needed to amend the state constitution.
- The amendment expands homestead property tax exemptions and takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
- Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said his agency will stop adding personnel while officials work out how to maintain services under reduced local revenue.
- Other sheriffs, including Volusia County’s Mike Chitwood and Jacksonville’s T.K. Waters, said they would work to maintain public safety, while the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office said the effect on its agency is not yet known.
- The amendment lists public safety as a permitted use of local property tax revenue but does not guarantee a specific level of funding.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Florida sheriffs are assessing staffing and budget decisions after voters approved Amendment 3, a property tax measure, with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd saying his agency will freeze hiring while local officials determine how to deliver services, Police1 reported.
The amendment passed with approximately 62% support in unofficial results, above the 60% threshold required. Under the Florida Senate’s summary, it raises the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 for qualifying permanent residents, with inflation adjustments beginning in 2029, and lowers the annual assessment growth cap for qualifying non-homestead property from 10% to 5%. The larger exemptions do not apply to school taxes. Supporters, including Florida Realtors, argued it would relieve homeowners facing rising costs.
State estimates cited by the Florida Chamber of Commerce project local government revenue losses of about $4.9 billion in fiscal 2027-28 and $8.7 billion in 2028-29, with a recurring annual impact of roughly $11.8 billion once fully in effect. Those figures cover all local governments, not law enforcement budgets alone.
In a Nov. 4 interview, Judd said employee pay and benefits account for about 80 cents of every dollar his agency spends, and that staffing growth will stop for the next few years. He said local leaders were given a task of re-engineering local services, and questioned whether the Legislature would provide help, noting the state put the measure on the ballot knowing there would be significant cuts if it passed. He said his agency will carry out voters’ decision.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said on Facebook there will be cuts but that public safety remains the priority. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters welcomed the tax relief and said he expects city leaders to continue prioritizing public safety, News4JAX reported. The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office said local governments will need to assess the budget effects.
The amendment’s text lists public safety, including law enforcement, fire protection and emergency medical services, among permitted uses of county and municipal property tax revenue, along with infrastructure, education and other purposes, but does not set a funding floor, according to the Seminole County Property Appraiser’s Office.
Before the election, several sheriffs warned of effects. Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young said the measure would take deputies off the street, and Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison said two to three positions had been identified as potential cuts. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma projected a $41 million reduction and the loss of 300 jobs. Those were pre-election projections, not cuts announced after passage.