Martin County officials warn proposed property tax amendment could impact public safety services

Martin County officials are warning residents about the potential impacts of a proposed statewide property tax amendment that will appear on the November ballot, saying it could significantly reduce funding for public safety and other local government services if approved.District 3 County Commissioner Blake Capps said the proposal would create substantial financial challenges for county government, affecting departments including the Sheriff’s Office, Parks and Recreation, Martin County Fire Rescue and more.”Our fire chief has estimated that we would need to close down about three of our fire stations … three of the 11. And then we could lose up to 116 of our 350 firefighters,” Capps said.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsAccording to Capps, the funding losses could also force the county to eliminate specialized emergency response resources, including LifeStar trauma helicopters, hazardous materials response and the technical rescue team.”Which is like the jaws of life for complex extradition and automobile accidents and the dive team … all of these things would be absent from our fire department,” Capps said.Martin County Fire Rescue currently operates with an approximately $80 million budget. Capps said the proposed amendment would result in millions of dollars in annual funding reductions.”In the first year, which would be the next fiscal year, next year the cut would be about $9.4 million out of 80. And in the second year, the cut would be about $16.5 million out of the 80,” Capps said.Capps said full implementation of the proposed homestead exemption would ultimately reduce the department’s budget by about $38 million.He also warned that the amendment’s effects would extend beyond homeowners, saying renters could also face financial consequences.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.”Because at the end of the day, local government has to be paid for. And the question is who is going to pay for it? If this measure passes, there will be a tax shift from one group of people to another group of people … and people who do not have homestead property ultimately will end up carrying more of that burden,” Capps said.Martin County commissioners are expected to hear a presentation from the county’s fire rescue Chief Cianciulli on Tuesday, July 28, regarding the potential impacts of the proposed amendment.

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. —

Martin County officials are warning residents about the potential impacts of a proposed statewide property tax amendment that will appear on the November ballot, saying it could significantly reduce funding for public safety and other local government services if approved.

District 3 County Commissioner Blake Capps said the proposal would create substantial financial challenges for county government, affecting departments including the Sheriff’s Office, Parks and Recreation, Martin County Fire Rescue and more.

“Our fire chief has estimated that we would need to close down about three of our fire stations … three of the 11. And then we could lose up to 116 of our 350 firefighters,” Capps said.

Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News

According to Capps, the funding losses could also force the county to eliminate specialized emergency response resources, including LifeStar trauma helicopters, hazardous materials response and the technical rescue team.

“Which is like the jaws of life for complex extradition and automobile accidents and the dive team … all of these things would be absent from our fire department,” Capps said.

Martin County Fire Rescue currently operates with an approximately $80 million budget. Capps said the proposed amendment would result in millions of dollars in annual funding reductions.

“In the first year, which would be the next fiscal year, next year the cut would be about $9.4 million out of 80. And in the second year, the cut would be about $16.5 million out of the 80,” Capps said.

Capps said full implementation of the proposed homestead exemption would ultimately reduce the department’s budget by about $38 million.

He also warned that the amendment’s effects would extend beyond homeowners, saying renters could also face financial consequences.

Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

“Because at the end of the day, local government has to be paid for. And the question is who is going to pay for it? If this measure passes, there will be a tax shift from one group of people to another group of people … and people who do not have homestead property ultimately will end up carrying more of that burden,” Capps said.

Martin County commissioners are expected to hear a presentation from the county’s fire rescue Chief Cianciulli on Tuesday, July 28, regarding the potential impacts of the proposed amendment.