In this special election-week episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast, host Brett Cyphers and Florida Specifier Editor-in-Chief Patrick Gillespie are joined by Kahreem Golden, Government Relations Director for The Nature Conservancy in Florida. Together they break down Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional amendment on property taxes that goes before Florida voters on Tuesday, November 3. They walk through what the amendment would do. It would raise the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments after that, and lower the cap on assessment increases for non-homestead property. They also discuss why it has drawn such a heated campaign from both supporters and opponents.
Kahreem explains The Nature Conservancy’s concerns about how lost property tax revenue could affect conservation and water funding across the state. Those concerns reach from local land conservation programs and county bond measures to the water management districts responsible for flood control and drinking water supply. Brett, Patrick and Kahreem also discuss the projected hit to local government budgets and the added strain on small and rural counties with limited tax bases. They look at what that could mean for spring and river restoration, and whether local governments would turn to the state, or to borrowing, to fill the gaps.
The group also looks ahead to the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which meets once every 20 years and convenes again in 2027. They talk about what a more deliberate conversation on property tax relief could look like, whether Amendment 3 passes or fails.
To learn more about The Nature Conservancy in Florida’s look at the conservation impacts of Amendment 3, go here: nature.org/amendment3
To explore Florida TaxWatch’s Property Tax Resource Center, with an Amendment 3 FAQ, estimated savings and a list of where organizations stand on both sides, go here: Florida TaxWatch Property Tax Resource Center
To read the Specifier online (where we hope you’ll subscribe if you haven’t already), go here: https://floridaspecifier.com
To get the word out about how you’re making waves (pun intended) in Florida’s environmental world, make sure you reach out to Brett, Ryan, or Jamie at:
A huge thank you goes out to Bagels and Biscuits for giving permission to use their music for the podcast.
This episode is a production of The Florida Specifier. Audio production and editing is by Karl Sorne and Dave Barfield at Lonely Fox Studios.
A special shout out goes to our very own Jamie Sheehan, Tracy Kistler and Meg Quap Holley for keeping us organized and moving forward.
