Yes. While the amendment will reduce the annual tax amount, taxes will still be due for local schools and non-ad valorem assessments. If unpaid, this could cause your house to be subject to a tax deed application.
Potentially.
Athletic field maintenance, youth programs, recreation centers, playground improvements, special events, and park upgrades all require ongoing funding.
Yes. The amendment would change the maximum rate of assessment increase from 10% down to 5%.
No. Property taxes on rental properties, commercial properties, and non-homestead property would not see an increase in their exemption. It is widely believed that the amendment will cause rental rates to increase as counties seek to raise revenue from commercial properties.
The proposed amendment would raise the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000 — enough to wipe out the county and city portion of the tax bill for roughly 6 in 10 Florida homeowners.
Local governments generally have three options:
- Reduce services.
- Delay maintenance and capital improvements.
- Implement alternative funding sources such as assessments, special districts, fees, or user charges.
In many cases, a combination of these approaches may be necessary.
Yes. For example, the Tax Collector subsidizes driver license services, identification cards, vehicle titles and registrations, and birth certificate issuance using locally generated tax revenue.
The property tax amendment that will be on the November 2026 ballot in Florida would increase property tax exemptions for homeowners, reducing the taxable value of homes and potentially lowering property tax bills for some residents.
Impacts will vary by location but likely reductions include:
- Road resurfacing schedules
- Park maintenance
- Athletic field improvements
- Sidewalk repairs
- Landscape maintenance
- Community events and recreation programs
- Response times for non-emergency service requests
Mandatory rollback of the tax rate (millage rate) and consolidation of overlapping government services such as fire, police, and animal control.
Most cities and counties publish financial information on their official websites. Residents are encouraged to review budgets, audits, and public meeting materials and attend budget workshops to learn more about how local services are funded.
Property taxes are one of the primary funding sources for cities and counties. These revenues support essential services such as:
- Police and fire protection
- Road maintenance and resurfacing
- Parks and recreation programs
- Community centers and athletic fields
- Stormwater systems
- Public facilities maintenance
- Planning and development services
When property tax revenues decline, local governments must identify other ways to fund these services.
The central issue with Florida’s proposed property tax amendment is simple: property taxes are the primary funding source for city and county governments. When that revenue is dramatically reduced, local governments either have to cut services, raise other taxes and fees, or both. The proposal would significantly expand homestead exemptions and could eventually eliminate most local property taxes on many owner-occupied homes.
The central issue with Florida’s proposed property tax amendment is simple: property taxes are the primary funding source for city and county governments. When that revenue is dramatically reduced, local governments either have to cut services, raise other taxes and fees, or both. The proposal would significantly expand homestead exemptions and could eventually eliminate most local property taxes on many owner-occupied homes. (Wall Street Journal)
Here are the biggest concerns for cities and counties:
Public Safety Could Face Budget Pressure
Police departments, sheriff’s offices, fire rescue, EMS, emergency management, and 911 systems rely heavily on local property tax revenue. While supporters argue governments can absorb the reductions, local officials and policy analysts warn that billions of dollars in county and municipal revenue could disappear. (PolitiFact)
Counties Could Lose Billions
Analyses cited by policy experts estimate counties could lose approximately $4.6 billion to $4.8 billion annually once the higher exemptions are fully implemented. Some individual counties project hundreds of millions of dollars in annual losses. (PolitiFact)
Services Beyond Public Safety Are Vulnerable
When budgets shrink, local governments typically protect legally required services first. Programs that often face cuts include:
- Parks and recreation
- Animal services
- Libraries
- Affordable and workforce housing programs
- Code enforcement
- Community redevelopment initiatives
- Road maintenance and transportation projects
- Environmental and water quality programs
- Community support services
These programs are often funded through the same property tax base that would be reduced. (PolitiFact)
Rural Counties Are Especially At Risk
Many rural counties have lower property values and fewer alternative revenue sources. The Legislature removed an earlier proposal that would have created assistance for fiscally constrained counties, leaving some rural governments potentially facing the most severe impacts. (PolitiFact)
The Costs Don’t Disappear
Even if property taxes are reduced, governments still must pay for deputies, firefighters, roads, equipment, employee health insurance, buildings, and infrastructure. Analysts note that local governments may respond by:
- Increasing fees
- Raising utility assessments
- Creating special assessments
- Increasing local sales taxes where authorized
- Raising millage rates on remaining taxable property
- Cutting services and personnel
In other words, many experts argue this could become a tax shift rather than a true tax elimination, moving costs from homeowners onto renters, businesses, tourists, and fee payers. (PolitiFact)
No Comprehensive Impact Study Has Been Completed
One of the most common criticisms is that the amendment has not undergone a full statewide fiscal impact study. Experts from multiple organizations have stated that the proposal’s effects vary dramatically by county and city, making the long-term consequences difficult to predict. (PolitiFact)
Yes. Property taxes designated for schools and special assessments that are not based on property value will still be due. Example: fire protection that is a flat annual fee.