The Amendment 3 in Florida, which would expand the homestead exemption on property taxes, has sparked opposing positions among prominent politicians and officials in Miami-Dade just weeks before the elections on November 3rd.
A summary of positions published by Axios warns that the divide largely falls along party lines. The main proponents are Republican officials, mostly Cuban Americans, while the most visible opponents are the county's Democratic mayor and African American legislators.
The favorable bloc was portrayed at the end of September when Tomás Regalado —property appraiser of the county and former mayor of Miami— called a press conference at the Versailles restaurant alongside other elected officials.
The event was attended by the state representative for Hialeah Alex Rizo, the tax collector Dariel Fernández, the elections supervisor Alina García, and the mayor of Coral Gables Vince Lago.
Regalado argued that for a home with a homestead exemption whose taxes amount to around $6,000, the burden would decrease to about $4,300 in the first year and to $3,000 in the second.
Rizo acknowledged that the measure "is not perfect," but he described it as "a step in the right direction."
The most striking stance in favor came from Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, who broke away from the Florida Sheriffs Association —which opposes the amendment— to publicly support the proposal.
"The reduction of taxes and public safety are not incompatible priorities," stated Cordero-Stutz, who urged agencies to review their expenditures and eliminate unnecessary costs.
On the opposing side, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava created the political action committee "No on 3 Protect Our Homes" and warned that the measure "threatens everything from public safety and emergency response to our roads, parks, and libraries."
Levine Cava warned that the county could lose up to 19 fire stations, more than 600 firefighters, and be forced to close 10 of its 51 libraries if the amendment succeeds.
State Senator Shevrin Jones from Miami Gardens was more direct: he described the proposal as "putting lipstick on a pig," and Commissioner Oliver Gilbert warned about potential cuts to bus fares, parks, and emergency services.
What is homestead in Florida and what would Amendment 3 change?
In Florida, the homestead is the residence that the owner uses as their permanent home and, upon meeting legal requirements, enjoys a partial exemption from property tax. It does not automatically include second homes or investment properties.
Amendment 3 will be put to a vote on November 3 and proposes:
- 2027: raise the exemption to 150,000 dollars.
- 2028: raise it to 250,000 dollars.
- Schools: maintain taxes allocated to school districts.
- Other properties: reduce the annual limit on the increase of their appraised tax value from 10% to 5%.
The proposal pits those advocating for tax savings for property owners against authorities who warn of potential cuts to public services.
The Amendment 3 also includes subsequent adjustments for inflation and new restrictions on the use of local tax revenues.
The economic impact of Amendment 3 in Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade approved a budget of 12.9 billion dollars in September after addressing a deficit of over 400 million through increases in water and sewage rates, elimination of positions, and the use of strategic reserves.
The county estimates that the amendment would cost it between 359 and 445 million dollars annually in tax revenue, equivalent to 10-20% of general fund revenues.
Local Republicans labeled those warnings as "fear tactics" and pointed out that Florida TaxWatch estimates an average savings of about $1,500 annually for a homesteaded property owner in Miami-Dade.
Ron DeSantis's stance
A notable figure absent from the debate is Governor Ron DeSantis, the original main proponent of the measure, who has taken a distanced stance.
DeSantis assured that he would vote in favor but that he did not want to be "the face" of the campaign because the version approved by the Legislature "is not everything he expected."
His original proposal included the gradual elimination of taxes on primary residences and a state compensation fund for local governments, elements that were not included in the final text.
The Mason-Dixon poll for NBC6/Telemundo places support for the amendment at 55%, five points below the 60% threshold required for it to be added to the Florida Constitution on November 3.
Related videos:
Filed under: