Florida Sheriffs Association warns property tax amendment could mean longer emergency response times

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WINK)— The Florida Sheriffs Association is warning voters that a proposed property tax amendment could come with unintended consequences, including longer law enforcement response times.

The statewide organization, which represents Florida's 67 sheriffs, announced Monday it is opposing Amendment 3, a proposal that would raise Florida's homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000.

In a statement posted to Facebook, the association said the amendment "potentially allows Tallahassee to control your local budgets, creates longer law enforcement response times, and limits communities' abilities to provide road repairs and stormwater removal."

The group argues the proposal would reduce local government revenue by hundreds of millions of dollars each year, leaving counties with less money to fund public safety and other essential services.

The Florida Sheriffs Association is the latest first responder organization to oppose the measure, joining the Florida Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Professional Firefighters and the Florida Fire Chiefs Association.

The Florida Professional Firefighters said they "can't support a proposal that could jeopardize the services people rely on every day."

UCF political scientist Aubrey Jewett said the growing opposition is significant.

"These public safety groups, by and large, have usually backed Republicans and Republican positions over the last 10 years or more," Jewett said.

Jewett said those organizations have traditionally viewed Republicans as supportive of law enforcement, firefighters and public safety funding, making their opposition to a Republican-backed proposal noteworthy.

Jewett said the organizations are not opposed to finding ways to lower property taxes. Instead, he said they believe this proposal would reduce local government funding without explaining how counties would continue paying for services people rely on.

"What the sheriff's association is saying is that if this amendment passes, it would cause huge cuts to county budgets, which are going to cause huge cuts to public safety," Jewett said.

Still, many Southwest Florida homeowners said they remain focused on lowering their tax bills.

"I think everybody who's a homeowner agrees that the property tax should be lower," said Julian Robitaille of Cape Coral.

"We could use the extra money, you know, to spend on other things," said Phil Joseph of Punta Gorda.

Jewett said affordability remains a major issue for Florida voters, but he believes opposition from trusted public safety organizations could influence the outcome of the vote.

"If these public safety groups continue to oppose it, it is more likely that we won't get to 60%," Jewett said.

Florida voters will decide Amendment 3 on the November ballot.