The More You Know, The More You Vote NO

In this time of ever-increasing prices and declining affordability, it is tempting to latch onto any legislation that promises tax relief. Amendment 3 to the Florida Constitution is an example of such legislation that will appear on the Florida general election ballot on November 3, 2026. But the more you know about Amendment 3, the more you will want to vote NO on it.

Jackson Peel, Communications Director for Save Our Services – No on 3, spoke to the members of the Democratic Women’s Club of Marco (DWCMarco) during their September 8, 2026, meeting. He provided a substantial portion of the following information on this proposed legislation.

What is Amendment 3?

Amendment 3 would expand the non-school property tax exemption from $25,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. The exemption would be adjusted for inflation in 2029 and beyond. It would create a pathway for non-school property tax “elimination”. The net result is that the more expensive the property, the bigger the tax cut.

It also reduces the state’s assessment growth cap for non-homesteaded properties — i.e., rental properties, commercial real estate, second homes — from a maximum of 10% to 5% every year.

What happens if Amendment 3 passes?

It is estimated that the amendment would reduce local government revenue across the state by $4.6 billion in fiscal year 2027-28 and $8.4 billion in fiscal year 2028-29. These taxes fund, among other things, hospitals and health services; public safety services such as fire, rescue, EMTs, etc.; disaster recovery and climate resilience; programs for kids, seniors, and veterans; summer camps, parks, libraries; and road and bridge building and repair. If Amendment 3 passes and the tax revenues are eliminated, these programs will need to be cut or funded from other sources.

Where would the revenue eliminated by Amendment 3 come from?

Local governments would need to impose new taxes and/or fees and/or assessments in order to fund the aforementioned services or curtail or cut them altogether. And although these “new” revenue sources would fall on all Floridians, the groups most affected in making them up would be renters, working families and seniors, kids, communities of color, immigrant communities, and public service workers. To quote Peel, the most impacted population in Florida would be “anyone who doesn’t own a multimillion-dollar mansion”.

How does that happen?

The owners of high-value properties get the greatest tax cuts from Amendment 3, while the rest of us are forced to disproportionately make up the difference. This is yet another example of the rich getting richer while everyone else gets poorer!

Who opposes Amendment 3?

The following are excerpts from official statements of a few of the groups who are publicly opposing Amendment 3.

Florida Fraternal Order of Police

Florida Sheriffs’ Association

Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association

David Jolly, Florida Gubernatorial Candidate

Who supports Amendment 3?

Florida Realtors®

Byron Donalds, Florida Gubernatorial Candidate

What is needed for Amendment 3 to pass?

In Florida, constitutional amendments require a 60% vote to be approved, per Article XI, Section 5 of the state constitution.

Conclusion

DWCMarco asks you to imagine a world in which response to your 911 call takes hours, not minutes, if it is answered at all. And all the programs and services affected by Amendment 3 tax revenues are now funded by individual fees for each if funded at all. It would be a nightmare of our own making.

Vote NO on Amendment 3!