Opponents of the proposed Florida constitutional amendment to lower property taxes by increasing the homestead exemption were recently handed a victory by a circuit court judge who ruled that the ballot language for the measure is legally defective and misleading and ordered that it be rewritten.
At the same time, the number of opponents to the measure continues to grow, with the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Professional Firefighters union and the Florida Fire Chiefs Association the latest to come out formally in opposition to the measure. They join countless local governments and other organizations across the state who argue that passage of the amendment will result in the reduction or elimination of vital tax-supported public services.
The proposed amendment, titled “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” aims to expand the homestead exemption on a property owner’s primary home from the current $50,000 to $150,000 beginning in 2027 and rising to $250,000 in 2028, provided that 60 percent of Florida approve the measure in November.