LARGO, Fla. — A Largo town hall meeting on the state’s proposed homestead property tax exemption increase drew outbursts from residents and sharp disagreement over how the measure could affect city services.
The meeting focused on Amendment 3 and its potential impact on Largo’s budget, including police and fire services. Even before it took place, the meeting stirred up controversy.
The town hall was originally planned as a panel discussion with city leaders and former state Sen. Jeff Brandes. State Rep. Berny Jacques wrote a letter to the mayor expressing concerns, saying Brandes is a staunch critic of Amendment 3 and that the panel lineup made it appear the city was taking and promoting a position against the amendment. Jacques said that would violate state law.
The city responded by inviting Jacques to join the panel.
During the meeting, Jacques said he was not convinced Largo officials were only providing information.
“Something tells me that they’re still trying to do it, and this is evidenced by the fact that the leaders of city hall brought forth and featured the chiefs of the two most popular departments of the city to tell you that property tax, if it’s cut, will somehow harm the things that we care about the most,” Jacques said.
Jacques said those services include public safety.
Information from the city shows Largo collected $44.1M in property tax revenue in fiscal year 2026 – less than the $69.6M that makes up the combined police and fire budgets. The city also said those departments would not be immune to cuts.
Largo’s fire and police chiefs told residents any cuts would likely include personnel, which makes up large portions of department budgets.
Largo Mayor Woody Brown said if Amendment 3 passes, the city expects to lose $10 million in the first year and $15 million in the years that follow.
“It would mean we’d have to stop doing stuff,” Brown said. “What that looks like, I’m not sure, but it would affect every single department.”
Brown said the meeting was intended to educate residents about possible impacts, not influence their votes.
“We know what the rules are,” Brown said. “We just present the facts.”
Before the panel discussion, attendees met with representatives from city departments to learn more about how property taxes fund city services.
Largo resident Eugene Martin said he came to stay informed but is leaning against the amendment.
“I just don’t like having our funds and direction controlled by the state,” Martin said. “I’d like to see it controlled by my community.”
Jacques said the decision will be up to voters in November and said municipalities cannot campaign on the issue.
“Leave the electioneering to the politicians,” Jacques said. “Leave it to the advocacy groups. We don’t need our taxpayer dollars going towards telling people that tax cuts are bad.”
Jacques told residents that homestead property tax made up less than 20% of Largo’s property tax collections this year and less than 4% of total revenues.
He said DOGE audits have shown cities are spending money in unnecessary ways and that, if Amendment 3 passes, cities will have to review their budgets to determine what they need and what they do not. Largo and other municipalities have said that is easier said than done.