From Sierra Club Florida
In Summary:
Twenty conservation, civic, and community organizations have signed an open letter opposing Florida’s Amendment 3. The proposal would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes and make other changes that would reduce local revenue, with projected annual reductions reaching nearly $12 billion over several years. Coalition members warn that those reductions could put pressure on parks, land conservation, water management and other public services.
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Property tax relief could come with a cost to the parks, waterways and public services Floridians depend on, a coalition of conservation, civic and community organizations warns. Twenty groups have signed an open letter opposing Amendment 3, urging voters to consider how the proposal could affect local governments and Florida’s five water management districts.
Related: Amendment 3 could squeeze children’s programs despite school funding exemption.
The organizations include Sierra Club Florida, the League of Women Voters of Florida, Florida Springs Council, Sea Turtle Conservancy and VoteWater. They share the concern that reducing property tax revenue could leave less money for protecting natural resources and maintaining public access to outdoor spaces.
“Time and time again, Floridians have proven that no matter where we live or what political party we support, our love of green space and affordable access to outdoor recreation is a tie that binds us,” the letter states.
Amendment 3 would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It would also lower the annual assessment growth cap for non-homestead properties, including rental and commercial properties, from 10% to 5%. The proposal goes before voters Nov. 3 and requires at least 60% approval to pass.
Those changes would reduce property taxes for eligible homeowners while shrinking a major revenue source for local governments. Florida TaxWatch, citing the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference, reports projected local property tax reductions of approximately $4.9 billion in fiscal year 2027-28, increasing to $11.8 billion annually by fiscal year 2031-32. The projected five-year total is approximately $45.8 billion.
The coalition argues that the consequences could reach well beyond government balance sheets. Its letter identifies parks, land conservation, flood protection and emergency services among the public responsibilities supported by property taxes.
The groups also highlighted the role of Florida’s five water management districts, which help oversee flood protection, water shortage planning, land management, water use and aquifer recharge. Their concern is that diminished revenue could put those responsibilities under greater financial pressure.
The projected revenue reductions do not establish which individual programs would be cut or how each local government would respond. The coalition’s warning centers on the funding choices communities could face if the amendment passes.
“Florida voters who are seeking relief and affordability should know that Amendment 3 is, in fact, the most expensive and dangerous choice on the ballot,” the coalition wrote.
Other signatories include 5 Gyres Institute, Apalachicola Riverkeeper, Earth Ethics, the Environmental Council of Volusia and Flagler Counties, the Florida Keys Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, Healthy Gulf, Hold the Line Coalition and North Central Florida Indivisible.
Respect Southeast Gainesville, Rethink Energy Florida, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Southeast Volusia Audubon Society, The Institute for Regional Conservation, Wakulla Springs Alliance and WWALS Watershed Coalition also signed.
For the coalition, the question facing voters is how much property tax relief could affect the services and natural places their communities rely on. The groups are asking Floridians to consider both sides of that calculation before casting their ballots.
Five key points
- Twenty organizations signed the letter, including Sierra Club Florida, the League of Women Voters of Florida, Florida Springs Council and VoteWater.
- Amendment 3 would increase the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.
- State revenue projections put the annual reduction in local property tax revenue at approximately $4.9 billion initially, growing to $11.8 billion by fiscal year 2031-32.
- The coalition’s concerns include funding for parks, preserves, flood protection, land conservation, and emergency services.
- The proposed constitutional amendment needs at least 60% voter approval to pass.
Read the coalition’s full open letter.
