Florida voters approve sweeping property tax cuts
Amendment 3 cleared Florida’s 60% threshold, winning about 62% of the vote. The measure changes how much of a primary home’s value is exempt from most local property taxes, while leaving the school-tax exemption unchanged.
The non-school homestead exemption is set to rise from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027, then to $250,000 in 2028. Starting in 2029, that amount will be adjusted for inflation. Some people who were not Florida residents by December 31, 2026, must wait until their fifth year qualifying for a homestead exemption to receive the increased benefit.
The amendment also cuts the annual limit on assessed-value increases for non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. That change covers commercial properties, second homes and rentals. The changes are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027.
Supporters, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, backed the measure as relief for homeowners facing rising costs. DeSantis had earlier distanced himself from the Legislature’s final version, saying it differed from the proposal he had initially sought.
Opponents, including local officials and public-safety groups, warned that lower property-tax collections could mean cuts to services or higher rates. A legislative analysis estimated local governments would lose nearly $5 billion in revenue in the 2027-28 fiscal year, with the effect increasing in later years. Officials cited services such as fire rescue, libraries, roads, flood protection and public transit as potentially affected. Critics also warn that tax breaks for owners could push home prices higher and make buying harder for prospective homeowners.
Florida’s property tax cuts threaten local services
Florida’s Amendment 3 passed with about 62% support, but the tax-cut victory comes with a steep potential cost for communities. The measure expands the homestead exemption on most local taxes while leaving school taxes untouched.
The exemption rises from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments beginning in 2029. The amendment also halves the annual assessment-increase limit for commercial properties, second homes and rentals, from 10% to 5%.
A legislative analysis projected local governments would lose nearly $5 billion in the 2027-28 fiscal year, with larger effects in subsequent years. Local officials have warned that lost revenue could force cuts to fire rescue, libraries, roads, flood protection, parks and public transit, or lead to higher local rates. Public-safety groups opposed the measure.
Supporters, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, presented the amendment as relief for homeowners facing rising costs. But the burden of that relief falls on local budgets, where residents rely on services that property taxes help fund.
The measure may also do little for people trying to buy their first home: critics say tax breaks for owners can push home prices higher. The exemption increase is scheduled to begin January 1, 2027, while some new residents will have to wait five years of qualifying for a homestead exemption to receive the larger benefit.
Florida homeowners win major property tax relief
Florida voters delivered a decisive property-tax victory, approving Amendment 3 with about 62% support and clearing the state’s 60% requirement. The measure gives homeowners a larger exemption from most local property taxes as families contend with rising home values and costs.
The non-school homestead exemption will increase from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then adjust for inflation beginning in 2029. School taxes are excluded. The amendment also reduces the yearly assessment-increase cap for commercial property, second homes and rentals from 10% to 5%.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds supported the measure. DeSantis later said the Legislature’s final version was not the proposal he had originally pursued, but the amendment now sets a path for substantial homeowner tax relief beginning January 1, 2027.
Local officials and other opponents warn the change could reduce government revenue, with a legislative analysis estimating a nearly $5 billion decline in the 2027-28 fiscal year. They say communities may have to cut services or raise rates. Those concerns deserve attention, but they do not erase voters’ choice to reduce the property-tax burden on homeowners.
The amendment also provides a lower assessment-growth cap for businesses and rental properties. Some people who were not Florida residents by December 31, 2026, will have to wait until their fifth qualifying year to receive the expanded homestead benefit.
Reported by CBS Miami, The Washington Examiner, WSVN 7News, FOX 5 DC, Newsweek, The Daily Wire, Daily Mail US, New York Post, The Conversation US, Fortune.
