Florida revises Amendment 3 property tax ballot language

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has submitted revised ballot language and a new title for Amendment 3 following a court order. The amendment, which aims to increase homestead exemptions, was previously challenged by the group Save Our Voters from Misleading Ballot Language. A circuit judge ruled the original wording was biased.

The new title for the amendment is ‘Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homesteaded Property Assessments’, replacing the previous title, ‘Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes’. The revised summary states the amendment would increase the homestead exemption for all non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with subsequent inflation adjustments.

In response to the potential fiscal impact of the amendment, Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell has proposed a 1% infrastructure sales tax to offset projected losses. If Amendment 3 passes, Polk County anticipates a $135 million reduction in property tax revenue. The proposed sales tax would aim to generate approximately $180 million to prevent significant budget cuts.