A Closer Look at Amendment 3 and Our Property Tax Debate

Families in District 20 are already feeling the weight of the cost of living, from property insurance to groceries to everyday bills. So when a ballot measure comes along promising tax relief, I believe it's worth taking a close, honest look at what it actually does before November.

What the Reporting Shows

According to reporting by Joshua Ceballos of WLRN Public Media, Florida's Amendment 3, which voters statewide will see on the ballot, would raise the homestead exemption for primary residences from $50,000 to $250,000, with the stated goal of eventually eliminating property taxes altogether. The amendment would also limit how county and city governments are allowed to use property tax revenue.

Governor Ron DeSantis has supported the measure, pointing to the increase in property tax revenue collected by local governments, from $31 billion in 2019 to $55 billion in 2024, and arguing that a reduction would help homeowners dealing with inflation.

Local officials in Miami-Dade and Broward, along with police and firefighter unions, librarians, and other groups that rely on property tax revenue, have raised concerns about the proposal. According to the reporting, they argue that while the measure would reduce one part of a homeowner's tax bill, other fees, such as those for solid waste or public safety, may need to rise to cover the shortfall, and that services like parks, libraries, senior programs, and afterschool programs could be reduced. The reporting also states that Miami-Dade County projects a $359 million revenue loss in the first year alone, and that renters could see costs rise as well, since the exemption applies only to primary residences and landlords' taxes on rental properties are not addressed by the amendment.

Why This Matters to Me

I know what it means to feel squeezed by rising costs. My own property insurance has gone from around $5,000 a year to over $14,000 for the same coverage. I understand exactly why homeowners in District 20 want real relief, because I want it too.

At the same time, families in this district also depend on the police showing up on time, on libraries staying open, on afterschool programs that let parents go to work knowing their kids are safe, and on services for our seniors. Any change to how we fund those things deserves a clear, honest explanation of exactly what will be cut, what fees will rise, and who will be affected, not just a promise of savings without the full picture.

Where I Stand

I believe families deserve real relief from costs that are genuinely out of control, especially property insurance, which I have lived through myself. But I also believe that relief should be honest and transparent, not a shift of costs from one line on a bill to another without people realizing it. Before this or any tax measure moves forward, I want to see a clear accounting of what it means for the essential services our communities depend on every single day.

Why I'm Running

I am running for Congress because families in District 20 deserve a representative who will look honestly at proposals like this one, ask the hard questions on their behalf, and fight for solutions that actually lower costs rather than simply moving them around.

Source and Attribution

Ceballos, Joshua. "South Florida officials compare Amendment 3 property tax cut proposal to payday loan scam." WLRN Public Media, September 2, 2026.