Florida sheriffs raise concerns over property tax amendment

The Florida Sheriffs Association announced it is joining state police and firefighter groups in opposing Amendment 3, citing significant concerns about its impact on funding for critical services. Amendment 3 aims to provide financial relief to homeowners by increasing homestead exemptions from $50,000 to $250,000 over two years. The Florida Sheriffs Association warned that the proposed tax cut could affect funding for first responder services in Florida, potentially leading to longer law enforcement response times. They also cautioned that it could limit communities' ability to provide road repairs and stormwater removal. Sheriff Billy Woods of Marion County expressed concerns about how the revenue loss would affect staffing needs. "Predicted off the experts in three to four years, I need an additional 350-some deputies. So the question is: Is if it's going to be cut, how am I going to get there? How do I retain the positions I have? And that's the question a lot of us sheriffs have," Woods said. The Glades County Sheriff's Office also shared its concerns, stating, "Reducing an already incredibly tight budget would be devastating for our agency. Please do your research and keep these details in mind when voting." Voters will decide on Amendment 3 in November, and it requires 60% of the vote to pass. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.