Talk to Us About Amendment 3

John Kennedy's article in the Tallahassee Democrat spends its opening on voices dismissing the warnings of economic blowback as fearmongering, yet the strongest evidence in the article favors the opponents. Economists project billions of dollars in local revenue will be lost in the next year with losses doubling by 2031; these are no fearmonger tactics these are real fiscal projections by economists.

Florida schools and students will suffer if Amendment 3 passes during these midterm elections. This proposed amendment would increase the homestead property tax exemption for non-school levies to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. According to reporting from the Florida Phoenix, this tax cut would strip $5 billion from municipal budgets in its first year and up to $12 billion annually by 2031.

While the amendment would not impact funding to Florida schools, we have to realize that public schools are just one part of a larger network of public services that support students. The physical health and personal safety of students are major contributing factors to academic success. If our city and county governments are unable to fund their public transit systems, public libraries, and community centers, students will fall behind on their learning. A thorough synthesis by the institute of education sciences indicates that expanded learning opportunities or ELOs are chief drivers of student achievement, and raise the floor for underfunded schools with at-risk students.

Additionally, the amendment will deliver financial relief to Floridians who already own homes. City and county commissioners will raise property tax rates on commercial parcels and apartment complexes to cover these budget deficits. Landlords will pass those tax increases onto tenants as they have done in other states that have passed similar laws. Renters will shoulder the resulting tax hikes.

Over one-third of Florida households rent their homes, making them ineligible for homestead exemptions. College students already scramble every semester to cover sudden housing price increases in Tallahassee, Gainesville, and Orlando; experiencing steady increases in rent prices, like the ones pictured in these graphs. Stiff rent hikes will force working students to pick up extra night shifts or skip meals to pay their rent.

Election day is only a few weeks away. Make a plan to vote no on Amendment 3.

A circuit judge in Leon County already ordered the state to rewrite the original ballot summary because the state’s initial text read like a political slogan.

Below, we provide a few helpful sources to learn about Amendment 3, and we invite comments and conversation. We invite your thoughts, questions, and evidence in the comment section below. What reporting has shaped your thinking on this ballot measure? What alternative fiscal policies have you discussed with your classmates, families, and neighbors? Check out Florida Tax Watch’s resource to calculate how much homeowners will save on property taxes and how much city and county governments will lose in funding. Share your findings, ask tough questions, and join our conversation.