WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida’s proposed property tax amendment is raising questions about how local governments would continue funding essential services if they collect less tax revenue.

Those questions came up Monday during Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia’s visit to West Palm Beach’s Fire Station One, where he announced $1 million in grant funding for fire departments in four cities.

The West Palm Beach Fire Department received more than $19,000 for equipment including helmets, oxygen tanks and specialized washers. The funding is intended to better protect firefighters and reduce their exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.

Ingoglia emphasized the importance of keeping police and fire services fully funded.

“No matter when, if, or how we talk about property tax cuts, local government should always be prioritizing fire and police, and sheriffs deputies in their budgets,” Ingoglia said. “The best way to take care of the people is to make sure that our hometown heroes are continually being fully funded.”

See also: Will Amendment 3 lower your property tax bill? Property appraiser says it’s not guaranteed

The discussion also turned to a proposed constitutional amendment that would provide property tax relief for homesteaded properties.

If approved by voters in November, the measure could reduce a source of revenue local governments use to pay for services.

Ingoglia could not say how much revenue local governments could lose, but he said there is room to provide property tax relief while continuing to fund essential services.

“I have run a lot of these numbers and we think there is a lot of room to offer property tax relief and still fund the necessary items for our first responders,” Ingoglia said.

West Palm Beach Fire Chief Diana Matty said she is not currently concerned about potential budget cuts affecting emergency response times.

“I do not have a concern over that because I know our West Palm Beach firefighters are going to rise to the occasion,” Chief Matty said. “We have not been presented with any cuts to our budget as of this morning’s budget workshop.”

Ingoglia also argued that government spending should not grow faster than inflation and population.

He said he does not necessarily agree with claims from some local governments that property tax changes would force them to “gut essential services,” arguing that if government spending grew at the normal pace of inflation and population, there would be less pressure on local budgets.

The proposed amendment is expected to go before Florida voters in November.