Florida Voters Approve Amendment 3 Property Tax Cut

Florida voters approved Amendment 3 on Tuesday, passing a proposal to increase property tax exemptions for homeowners. With 96% of precincts reporting, the measure secured nearly 62% of the vote, comfortably exceeding the 60% threshold required for passage.

The amendment raises the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. State economists estimate the change will reduce local government revenue by nearly $5 billion in the first year and nearly $8.8 billion in the following year. Critics argued that these revenue losses will strain public services, particularly first responder funding.

The Florida Realtors’ Vote Yes on 3 PAC funded the campaign for the amendment almost entirely. The proposal drew opposition from city officials, educators, and law enforcement groups across the state. In the Tampa Bay area, nearly every law enforcement entity opposed the measure, citing potential funding losses and decreased public safety.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco was the only sheriff in the state to publicly support the amendment. Nocco, who is leaving his post to run in a special general election for Florida State Senate District 21, received a $1,000 payment from the Florida Realtors in July. He argued that local governments would become more efficient and that state politicians would prioritize first responder budgets to offset local losses.

The approval of Amendment 3 marks a major shift in Florida’s tax code. The new exemption levels will take effect in 2027 and 2028, respectively. Local governments will now face the task of adjusting budgets in anticipation of the projected revenue declines.