JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Florida voters have approved Amendment 3, expanding property tax relief for homeowners across the state. The measure passed with 62% approval, overcoming the required 60% threshold.<\/p>\n
The approved amendment increases the property tax homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.<\/p>\n
Property taxes account for nearly 64 cents of every dollar in revenue collected by the city of Jacksonville, with school district taxes remaining the only portion unaffected by the amendment.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville City Council President Nick Howland estimated that the loss of tax revenue will create a budget deficit of up to $200 million in 2027 and $300 million in 2028. Howland indicated that addressing the revenue shortfall may require establishing a special council committee.<\/p>\n
The impending revenue drop has already impacted municipal funding decisions. The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee previously withheld 35% of city grant money allocated for non-profit organizations until the election results were finalized.<\/p>\n
Councilman Rory Diamond criticized Mayor Donna Deegan\u2019s administration regarding past budget discussions, contending that council efforts to reduce spending ahead of the vote were subverted. Diamond called for immediate spending reductions, including a hiring freeze, salary cuts in the mayor\u2019s office and a 25% salary cut for city personnel earning more than $100,000 annually. He also criticized grant allocations for community programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery effort we made, to work with the mayor, to cut the budget, to get ready for this, was played against us and they tried to subvert every single cut and successfully did so,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cAnd now we have a budget that is not ready for what\u2019s coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m gonna ask for a 25% cut on the salaries of anyone making more than $100,000 a year for the city of Jacksonville,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cEnough with the stupid programs, enough with the non-profits with their nose in the trough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Councilman Rahman Johnson pushed back against Diamond\u2019s stance, arguing that municipal initiatives should be evaluated carefully rather than dismissed. Johnson challenged Diamond\u2019s assessment of council proposals and city programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeluso lives in a fantasy land if he thinks that we\u2019re not gonna cut right away,\u201d Diamond said. Johnson countered that Diamond\u2019s comments were not rooted in reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut to call programs stupid programs,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cI think it\u2019s important, Mr. Chair, that we look at all the programs intelligently,\u201d Council member Jimmy Peluso offered a different view on how the city will manage the deficit, suggesting that municipal projects would face timeline delays rather than outright cancellation. <\/p>\n
Peluso cited potential delays for road resurfacing, drainage projects, infrastructure work and new public libraries, while also questioning future funding for the Kids Hope Alliance, a city funding source for at-risk youth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s just going to be a lot of delays, right?\u201d Peluso said. \u201cSo it\u2019s not so much that things will be cut out entirely, but if you were expecting a new library, maybe now it\u2019ll be delayed two more years.\u201d <\/p>\n
Reflecting on funding for youth programs, Peluso questioned the city\u2019s long-term capacity. \u201cBut now I do question how much money we\u2019re really gonna have to be able to do that and actually make a lasting impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
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