Florida Amendment Three<\/a> which proposes increasing homestead exemptions.<\/p>\nOn Tuesday, Judge David Frank ordered Florida to rewrite the language of the amendment, saying that it was not neutral and designed to get an emotional response.<\/p>\n
Starting at the top of the amendment, Frank took issue with its title saying it appears to advocate for a political position rather than staying impartial. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe ballot title is: \u2018Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes.\u2019 The title is more akin to a political slogan.\u201d <\/p>\n
Frank then said that the amendment\u2019s summary, which reads in part \u201censuring funding for core services\u2026for Florida residents\u2026\u201d gives a reason for Florida voters to agree with the bill\u2019s proposal rather than giving them a neutral reading of what it would do. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose of a ballot summary is to explain what the amendment would do, not advocate for its adoption.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frank also said that the bill misleadingly suggests that the exemption would start at $250,000, \u201cwhen, in fact, it would only exempt the first $150,000 of value in the first year,\u201d and said that approval is ultimately is \u201cthe exclusive domain of the voters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Furthermore, he stated that the ballot demands fairness and accuracy, and that the version is currently \u201cclearly and conclusively defective.\u201d<\/p>\n
While his ruling keeps the proposal on the ballot, it compels Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to rewrite parts of the proposal. <\/p>\n
The proposal was added to the ballot by the state legislature earlier this summer. If passed, it would raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027, and $250,000 in 2028, with a schedule for full elimination. By removing some taxes, it would cut billions of dollars that currently funds local government.<\/p>\n
Since the proposal was added to the ballot, some law enforcement groups have raised concerns.<\/p>\n
The Florida Sheriff\u2019s Association said that the change would, \u201cpotentially allow Tallahassee to control your local budgets,\u00a0create longer law enforcement response times,\u00a0 limits communities\u2019 abilities to provide road repair and stormwater removal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019m cutting taxes, how am I going to get out there and keep my community safe?\u201d said Marion County Sheriff\u2019s Office Sheriff Billy Woods<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no greater tragedy than knowing that you could have saved a life when the resources weren\u2019t available, and we didn\u2019t get there fast enough,\u201d said Michael Tucker from the Florida Fire Chiefs Association.<\/p>\n
But proponents argue that the money is not the municipalities\u2019 money, but the taxpayer\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not the municipality\u2019s money, its the taxpayer\u2019s money. They get to choose,\u201d said Florida State Rep. Tom Fabricio.<\/p>\n
Uthmeier has 10 days to rewrite the bill and send it back to the court for approval. <\/p>\n
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