Every Friday in our newsletter until the Friday before election day, we include a feature called “Weekly Question With Your Candidates.” Fort Myers Beach voters will fill three open seats in November. There are four candidates. This week we asked how the candidates will vote on Amendment 3.
Anita Cereceda
I’m torn on ammendment 3 so I’m not sure how I will vote. While the savings may be good for me as an individual property owner, I am concerned about the impact state-wide. Should the ammendment pass, the town will have to identify early on what adjustments will need to be made. It could present a positive opportunity to rethink our budget.
Tom Brady
Leaning YES – Florida property values have grown far faster than population and inflation in recent years, and I believe property-tax reform is overdue. A constitutional amendment would not have been my preferred way to address the problem. The legislature had other opportunities to pursue reform legislatively and did not.
My biggest concern is that reducing property taxes does not necessarily reduce the overall cost of government. Some of the burden could simply shift to other taxes or fees.
If passed, this amendment should encourage municipalities to go back and look at expenses and revenues and bring expenses in line with true drivers, not property values.
There is also another opportunity approaching. Florida’s Taxation and Budget Reform Commission meets only once every 20 years and will be established again in 2027. Its specific responsibility includes reviewing Florida’s tax structure, government spending, revenue needs, and efficiency.
I would prefer that kind of comprehensive review to produce a more nuanced, long-term solution. If the Commission develops a better approach, it can propose constitutional changes for voters to consider in 2028—including repeal of this amendment.
Rebecca Link
I have concerns about how quickly Amendment 3 was developed and about some of its broader implications.
At the same time, I absolutely believe homeowners — homesteaded or not — need relief from skyrocketing property taxes. I feel much the same way about insurance costs. These are real affordability issues for people trying to remain in their homes and communities, and I want our leaders to address them without creating new problems in the process.
For me, there are two separate questions: Do Floridians need meaningful property-tax relief? Yes. Is Amendment 3 the best way to accomplish that? I think that’s the question voters need to examine carefully.
There are other ways the state could approach property-tax relief, including state-funded rebates or credits, more targeted relief, changes to assessment caps, or mechanisms to offset revenue losses to local governments. I’d like to better understand those alternatives and their consequences before concluding that one particular approach is the answer.
Amendment 3 does contemplate a state trust fund to provide grants to assist local governments with implementation. My concern is the uncertainty that could come with relying on future state funding, not to mention the time it takes to request, award and manage grant funds. Municipalities need predictable revenue to plan budgets, maintain infrastructure, and provide services, and I think it’s important to understand how that would work in practice.
As for how I will personally vote on Amendment 3, I’m going to keep my ballot private, just as I respect everyone else’s right to do. I also respect their choice, whatever that may be.
Ed Schoonover
I will be voting yes on Amendment 3. As Governor DeSantis famously said, “Property taxes effectively require homeowners to pay rent to the government.” It is indeed time to remind the government that your land and homestead are not the government’s personal ATM. Please join me in voting yes and providing Florida residents with some much needed property tax relief.
QUESTION #2 – THE BAY OAKS POOL
QUESTION #1 – HIGHER FEES
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Hell YES to amendment 3-
Property taxes are unconstitutional-
A homeowner doesn’t own their property as long as property taxes exist . Period.
FMB is a microcosm of why Amendment 3 is on the ballot. Taxable base went up 9% and they STILL increased the millage rate by over 3%. So they are taking in way more money (I’ll let someone else figure out that number) than they did last year. Where is all of that money going?
Seems time for governmental entities to examine and justify to voters what services should be provided and where the money comes from. That won’t happen piecemeal meal. Starting with a clean slate will force municipal and county officials to explain the what and why of our taxes.
Of course most elected county and municipal officials will not want to undergo that scrutiny. It’s messy work and may lead to some being ousted next election. Nonresident property owners
will have cause to examine their residency. Congressional representation follows.
Voting “yes”
Ed, I know that this is a hot topic, and it does make news to ask the candidates; however, I was brought up to keep my voting decisions to myself. Why else would they have kiosks at the voting sites so other people can’t see what others are doing? It doesn’t matter if you’re little old me or a candidate for office. IMO
Well I really don’t care how these people vote. I am definitely voting Yes on Amendment 3. The bottom line is they all know they will have to stop the overspending on ridiculous things like the $5 Million Dollar pool that no one is going to use and rethink the budget. After all they are the ones gun ho on raising our property taxes every year.