Opponents of Florida's property-tax Amendment 3 went to court over its original ballot title, “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” arguing that the wording was biased and promoted the measure rather than simply explaining it. A Leon County judge agreed and ordered Attorney General James Uthmeier to rewrite the title. The result is far less catchy: “Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homesteaded Property Assessments.”
But the court victory may have had an unexpected consequence. Gov. Ron DeSantis says the new plain-language title is actually polling better than the original. Instead of a political-sounding slogan, voters now see exactly what the amendment proposes: a larger homestead exemption and a lower cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead property. Amendment 3 will go before Florida voters on November 3 and will require 60% approval to pass.
The bigger property-tax debate won't necessarily end there. DeSantis has also raised concerns that local governments could respond to lower property-tax revenue by increasing millage rates, fees or other charges, and has suggested lawmakers may consider limits on local government budget growth after the election.
For taxpayers, that raises a second question beyond Amendment 3: If the state lowers your property taxes, should local governments be prevented from finding another way to collect the savings?