Article is below this top clip – with a counter argument to Sheriff Grady Judd… You decide, all sides shown
Florida Sheriff Grady Judd urges Florida residents to vote ‘No’ on Amendment 3 which would lower property taxes, and ultimately eliminate most property taxes
He says the version of the Amendment that was passed by the Florida House and Senate is not the version that Governor Ron… pic.twitter.com/7GDYwim0Hw
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) August 11, 2026
He says the version of the Amendment that was passed by the Florida House and Senate is not the version that Governor Ron DeSantis originally proposed This version lowers and untimely ends most properly taxes but doesn’t provide a safety new for funding for law enforcement The version Ron DeSantis proposed had that safety net in there For some reason it was stripped and the new version was passed by both Houses There is no state trust fund in this bill to make up the funding for law enforcement
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is calling Florida’s Amendment 3 a “train wreck” and urging residents to vote No this November.
The high-profile conservative lawman and the Florida Sheriffs Association are among a growing list of public-safety groups, cities, and counties warning that the property-tax overhaul would deliver real homeowner relief at the cost of local budgets and services — with no solid plan to replace the money.
At the same time, supporters — including leading Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds — say Florida families are not an “endless piggybank,” property tax collections have soared with home values, and homeowners (especially longtime residents and fixed-income seniors) need meaningful relief from the state’s affordability squeeze.
Here is a counter-argument: Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia pushes back on concerns that property tax relief will gut emergency services, pointing out that local government budgets have exploded by 60% to 160% over the last six years. @GovGoneWild : “We think there is a lot of room to offer property tax relief, and still fund the necessary items for our first responders.”
Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia pushes back on concerns that property tax relief will gut emergency services, pointing out that local government budgets have exploded by 60% to 160% over the last six years.@GovGoneWild: “We think there is a lot of room to offer property tax relief,… pic.twitter.com/j7edut94Xk
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) August 10, 2026
Here is a clear look at what Amendment 3 actually does, why many want it defeated, and why others are fighting for it.
What Amendment 3 Would Do
Placed on the November 3, 2026 ballot by the Republican-controlled Legislature during a June special session (HJR 1F), the constitutional amendment needs 60% voter approval to pass. If approved, it would take effect in 2027.
Key provisions:
- Raise the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes (city, county, and special districts) from the current roughly $50,000 structure to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. Starting in 2029 the $250,000 figure would be adjusted for inflation.
- School-district taxes stay under the existing rules (primarily the first $25,000 exempt). Homeowners would still pay the school portion.
- Longtime residents (permanent Florida residency established by Dec. 31, 2026) get the full higher exemption right away. Newer arrivals get a smaller exemption for several years before qualifying for the full amount.
- Lower the annual assessment-increase cap on non-homestead properties (rentals, second homes, commercial) from 10% to 5%.
- Direct the Legislature to create a process allowing local governments to raise the exemption further — potentially up to the full assessed value of a homestead — creating a pathway toward eliminating most non-school property taxes on primary homes.
- Restrict how remaining property-tax revenue can be spent, limiting it largely to “core services” such as public safety, infrastructure, education, natural resources, debt service, and certain operations.
State economists project local governments (cities, counties, special districts) would lose roughly $5 billion in the first year, rising toward nearly $12 billion annually within about five years. Some smaller or more homestead-heavy communities could see especially steep hits — in extreme cases approaching half their property-tax base.
Why Judd and Many Others Want It Defeated
Judd, who has endorsed Donalds in the governor’s race, still blasted the measure hard. He and the Florida Sheriffs Association say they support “meaningful tax savings” but call this version unresearched and destructive. Lawmakers, Judd charged, conducted “zero financial analysis.” He warned it fails to protect law enforcement, fire, EMS, roads, and stormwater the way earlier drafts supposedly did, and that small counties could be “wiped out.”
Public-safety groups have lined up against it: the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police formally opposes it; Florida Professional Firefighters and fire chiefs warn it could undermine funding without a replacement revenue source. Cities and counties project service cuts or higher fees/assessments. Local officials note that more than 100 cities could lose 90% or more of their homesteaded taxable value under the higher exemption. A “Vote No on 3” campaign has formed, and Democrats in the Legislature have also piled on.
Critics further argue the measure centralizes power: locals would lose revenue and then have to beg Tallahassee for help or raise other taxes and fees. Newer residents face a waiting period. Commercial and rental properties get only the tighter assessment cap, not the big homestead break. And the original ballot title (“Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes”) and summary were ruled biased and misleading by a Leon County judge, who ordered the Attorney General to rewrite them as neutral descriptions rather than political slogans.
In short, opponents say the relief is real but the funding hole is massive and the planning was rushed.
Why Supporters Want It Passed
Florida property-tax collections have climbed sharply as assessed values soared — revenue growth in recent years has been among the highest in the country. Homeowners, especially retirees on fixed incomes who bought years ago, feel the squeeze alongside high insurance costs. Proponents say Amendment 3 delivers substantial savings: many homesteaders could see hundreds to a few thousand dollars less on the non-school portion of their bills, and homes valued under $250,000 could eliminate most non-school property taxes.
Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed hard for property-tax overhaul for more than a year and called the special session, though the final version is more limited than his original vision (schools were carved out, and full elimination is only a future pathway). He has said he will vote Yes but is not leading a campaign for it. Byron Donalds has become the measure’s most visible backer, folding it into his affordability message and running ads promising to cut property taxes. He argues families are not a never-ending revenue source and that if it fails he will pursue further reform. Other Republicans, including Sen. Rick Scott (after initial questions) and some statewide officials, have also voiced support, with arguments that local governments have waste to cut and that taxpayers deserve priority.
Supporters frame it as a historic step toward making homeownership more affordable in a high-cost state and putting downward pressure on government spending.
The Bottom Line for Voters
Amendment 3 is classic Florida politics in 2026: real homeowner pain meeting real local-government dependence on property taxes. Public-safety voices like Judd’s carry weight because response times, fire protection, and basic infrastructure are not abstract. At the same time, the long-term rise in tax bills is undeniable, and many residents simply want the government to take less of what they earn and own.
The ballot language is being rewritten after the court challenge. Voters will still decide in November whether the relief is worth the risk to local services — or whether lawmakers should go back and craft something with clearer funding and better analysis. Florida has no shortage of strong opinions on both sides. The only thing that settles it is 60% of the vote.
— The Whatfinger News Team: Sgt K and Lisa
From the folks
- What kind of moron homeowner would not vote for amendment 3. Every year, my taxes rise while new construction keeps popping up everywhere. The county collecting taxes on homes at a higher tax rate. The streets ought to be paved with gold. – HSS
- Not shocked at all these municipalities crying like babies. They have used and abused the taxpayers for so long, now their fiscal irresponsibility’s are coming to light. The American taxpayers are fed up, deal with it you local hacks and quit stealing OUR money. – Robert A
References
- ‘It’s a train wreck:’ Florida Sheriff Grady Judd rails against new property tax proposal
- Florida property-tax amendment faces growing opposition
- Donalds takes role as biggest backer of Florida’s property tax measure
- Judge orders rewrite of ‘biased’ and ‘political’ property tax measure
- Polk Sheriff Grady Judd urges voters to kill Florida’s Amendment 3
- Proposed 2026 Florida Property Tax Amendment 3 (CS/HJR 1F) FAQs | Pinellas County Property Appraiser
- Amendment 3: Property Tax Ballot Language Summary and Local Fiscal Impacts
- Florida voters to decide expanded homestead tax exemption amendment in November
- What are you actually voting on? Florida’s Amendment 3 explained
- Florida economists project cities and counties to lose $12 billion under property tax plan
- DeSantis says he’s taking back seat on property tax proposal
- Florida Property Tax Proposal: 2026 Details & Analysis
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