Florida’s Amendment 3 proposes property tax relief for homeowners, which needs 60% of the vote in the Nov. 3 election to pass.
It could garner that support, but a University of North Florida poll found that support drops once voters learn what services get cut to pay for it. Children’s services are among those most at risk.
On the Treasure Coast, councils that fund day care, after-school programs, VPK, maternity care and infant mortality prevention rely almost entirely on property taxes. If the amendment passes, officials say program cuts aren’t a question of “if,” but “which ones.”
Here are five things to know:
Read the full story: Florida property tax amendment risks after-school, child-care funding
Children’s services rely on property taxes
Children’s services councils across Florida rely almost entirely on property taxes — in St. Lucie County, they make up 97% of the council’s revenue. If Amendment 3 passes in November, that funding stream could dry up, putting after-school programs, day care and maternity care at risk across the Treasure Coast.
Child care and after school program cutsE.N.D. IT! performs ‘The Little Mermaid Jr.’ in July 2026
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The E.N.D. IT! performance of “The Little Mermaid Jr.,” adapted from Disney’s Broadway production and the motion picture. The production was sponsored in part by Children’s Services Council of St Lucie County, July 31, 2026, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (PROVIDED BY END IT!)
After-school programs, day care, Voluntary Pre-K, maternity care and infant mortality prevention could all see reduced funding. Fort Pierce nonprofit END IT! Corp., which gets 67% of its budget from the St. Lucie County Children’s Services Council, is one example of a program that could be forced to scale back or shut down entirely.
Children’s services councils to lose millions
St. Lucie County’s council projects a $2.5 million shortfall in year one and $4.2 million in year two. Martin County expects to lose $2.2 million and $3.5 million over the same period. Indian River County, which funds children’s services directly through its County Commission rather than an independent council, could lose all $3.4 million of that funding.
Children’s services affects people without children
Advocates say the cuts would ripple into the local economy. Lack of affordable child care is a leading reason women leave the workforce, according to a Florida Policy Institute analyst, and after-school programs also serve as a public safety measure by keeping kids supervised.
Carveout for children’s services didn’t pass
Amendment 3 carves out protection for school district property taxes, but not for children’s services. A June effort by state Rep. Robin Bartleman to add a similar carveout for children’s services died on the House floor one day after it was introduced.
Jack Lemnus is a TCPalm enterprise reporter. Contact him at jack.lemnus@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1345, or follow him on X @JackLemnus.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida property tax vote threatens Treasure Coast child care