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Miami-Dade Officials Back Amendment 3 as Local Tools Put Dollar Figures on Losses

Calculators plus county warnings show large projected local revenue shortfalls that could force cuts to fire stations and libraries if voters approve the measure.

Overview

  • Three Miami-Dade elected officials publicly expressed support for Amendment 3 while the county mayor warned the measure could cut nearly $390 million in the first year and lead to closures of fire stations and libraries.
  • The state’s Revenue Estimating Conference projects roughly $45.8 billion in lost local property-tax revenue over the amendment’s first five years, with independent analyses noting recurring annual losses in the roughly $11–12 billion range once fully phased in.
  • Amendment 3 would raise the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, shrink the non-homestead assessment growth cap from 10% to 5%, and require five years of Florida residency for new arrivals to qualify for the full exemption.
  • Multiple new public and private calculators now let homeowners and local governments run county-level estimates of personal savings and revenue losses, making the fiscal trade-offs more concrete for voters and officials.
  • Policy responses have been proposed to manage municipal strain if the measure passes, including a Minimum Viable City screening, municipal transition teams, and a proposed one-time $1 billion Municipal Transition Fund to cover restructuring costs.