![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Gulfport-Del-Harper-shutterstock_2287382413.jpg\")
Gulfport, Florida on April 8, 2023. Credit: Del Harper \/ Shutterstock<\/p>\nGulfport, Florida on April 8, 2023. Credit: Del Harper \/ Shutterstock<\/p>\n
Gulfport officials are warning residents that a proposed statewide property tax amendment could reduce City revenue and force difficult budget decisions in the years ahead.<\/p>\n
At a June 18 property tax workshop, Ward III Council member Jennifer Webb outlined how House Joint Resolution 1F could affect Gulfport if voters approve it in November 2026.<\/p>\n
The proposed constitutional amendment, titled \u201cSave Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,\u201d has already passed the Florida Legislature. However, voters must approve it by at least 60% before it becomes law. If approved, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2027.<\/p>\n
The amendment would expand the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes. It would increase the exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It also would reduce the annual assessment cap on certain non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%.<\/p>\n
For homeowners, the proposal could lower non-school property taxes. For cities, it could shrink the tax base that pays for local services.<\/p>\n
Gulfport projects a major budget hit<\/p>\n
According to workshop materials, Gulfport estimates the proposal could reduce city property tax revenue by $1.1 million in the first year. Once fully implemented, the city projects an annual reduction of $1.8 million.That loss would matter because property taxes make up one of Gulfport\u2019s largest General Fund revenue sources.<\/p>\n
The City\u2019s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget includes $6,966,686 in property tax revenue. By comparison, Gulfport budgets $5,427,147 for police operations and $3,372,208 for fire rescue operations.<\/p>\n
Together, police and fire cost $8,799,355 \u2014 more than the City collects in annual property tax revenue.<\/p>\n
That means Gulfport could not cover its public safety costs with property taxes alone, even before any reduction. If the amendment passes, City leaders would have to look harder at other services, fees, reserves, staffing, or future budget cuts.<\/p>\n
Public safety complicates the choices<\/p>\n
Even if Gulfport wanted to avoid cuts to police and fire, state law could make those reductions harder.<\/p>\n
A 2023 change to Florida law allows the state attorney or a city governing body member to challenge a municipal police budget reduction of more than 5%. That challenge would go through the Division of Administrative Hearings.<\/p>\n
As a result, public safety would likely remain one of the City\u2019s hardest areas to reduce.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Gulfport\u2019s public safety costs continue to rise. Workshop materials show police costs increased by 50% over the past decade. Fire costs more than doubled. Excluding the purchase of a new fire truck in FY25, public safety costs rose 75.7% over 10 years.<\/p>\n
That leaves City leaders with a narrow set of options if revenue drops.<\/p>\n
This post first appeared at which is part of the Tampa Bay Journalism Project <\/a>\u00a0(TBJP), a nascent Creative Loafing Tampa Bay effort supported by grants and a coalition of donors who make specific contributions via the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation<\/a>. If you are a non-paywalled Bay area publication interested in TBJP, please email rroa@ctampa.com<\/a>. Help the Gabber keep publishing by making a donation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Services could face pressure<\/p>\n During the workshop, City materials identified several programs and services that a major property tax reduction could affect.<\/p>\n Those examples included Fourth of July fireworks, holiday lights in Clymer Park, youth and adult athletics, summer camps and childcare, Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, theater programs, the Catherine Hickman Theater, the Gulfport Casino, and special events.<\/p>\n The City also listed broader operational impacts. These impacts included reduced park maintenance, playground closures, longer permitting and inspection turnaround times, delayed facility and infrastructure maintenance, reduced code enforcement, fewer safety and community outreach programs, and possible staffing reductions or furloughs.<\/p>\n The workshop materials also showed the net costs of several FY26 services.<\/p>\n Public Works and parks carry a net cost of $1,263,327<\/p>\n The library costs $1,077,422<\/p>\n The recreation center costs $1,042,684<\/p>\n The senior center costs $464,848<\/p>\n The theater costs $333,063<\/p>\n The history museum costs $226,745<\/p>\n GEMS extended mobility service costs $221,969<\/p>\n Special events cost $121,968<\/p>\n Together, those examples total $4,752,026.<\/p>\n New budget rules add pressure<\/p>\n Another new state law will also affect Gulfport\u2019s budget process.<\/p>\n HB 1329, the Local Government Financial Transparency and Accountability Act, requires municipalities to post tentative, adopted tentative, and final budgets online. It also requires cities to publicly identify possible 10% budget reductions without compromising essential services.<\/p>\n For Gulfport, that exercise would require the City to identify about $2.2 million in possible reductions from its $21.8 million General Fund budget.<\/p>\n If the City excludes public safety from that exercise, the remaining departments and services total about $13 million. That would place more pressure on public works, recreation, administration, community development, library services, and technology.<\/p>\n In practical terms, Gulfport may need to plan for cuts even before voters decide whether the property tax amendment will pass.<\/p>\n Ballot language faces legal challenge<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a lawsuit has challenged the amendment\u2019s ballot title and summary.<\/p>\n The complaint argues that the language is biased and misleading. It specifically challenges phrases such as \u201cSave Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,\u201d \u201censuring funding for core services,\u201d \u201cprotecting small businesses,\u201d and \u201censuring fairness for Florida residents.\u201d<\/p>\n Those claims remain allegations unless a court rules on them. But the lawsuit adds uncertainty to the timeline.<\/p>\n The timing also matters for local governments. Once the amendment moves further into the ballot process, state law limits how cities may use public resources to communicate about ballot measures. Elected officials may still speak as individual residents, but cities must take caution when educating the public in an official capacity.<\/p>\n Voters will decide what comes next<\/p>\n For Gulfport residents, the issue reaches beyond whether a homeowner might pay less in non-school property taxes.<\/p>\n The local question is what the City could still afford to provide if a major portion of property tax revenue disappears.<\/p>\n That was the central message of the workshop: property tax relief may show up on a homeowner\u2019s tax bill, but the impact could also show up in City budgets, public safety planning, park maintenance, community programs, staffing, and the everyday services residents expect Gulfport to provide.<\/p>\n The Gulfport City Council\u2019s next meeting is July 7 at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us:\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0BlueSky<\/a><\/p>\n This article appears in June 18 \u2013 24, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n \t\t\t