Florida voters approved Amendment 3 in the Nov. 3 general election, according to unofficial results, but some Tallahassee residents expressed concerns about its potential effects on public services and local government funding. 

The measure received nearly 62% approval statewide, exceeding the 60% needed to pass. In Leon County, about 55% of those who voted on the amendment opposed it, with 66,324 voting no and 54,710 voting yes, according to unofficial results from the Florida Department of State. 

Amendment 3 raises the homestead exemption for eligible homeowners to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. The increase applies to non-school property taxes, and the exemption will be adjusted each year for inflation after 2028. Supporters in the Florida Senate said the measure would help make owning a home more affordable. 

Tallahassee residents who spoke about Amendment 3 questioned what potential savings for homeowners could mean for local services. They also raised concerns about whether voters had enough information to understand how the measure could affect their community. 

Devin Nobles Jr., a Tallahassee homeowner, said his opposition centered on protecting services residents use, including parks, libraries and emergency response. 

Nobles acknowledged that he had not examined how the amendment would affect his household finances. His main concern was how it could affect Tallahassee residents who rely on public services. 

“I’m looking at the most vulnerable individuals in our state,” Nobles said. “Libraries and public things like that are all things that are fundamental,” he added. 

Nobles said local leaders should protect essential services when deciding how to allocate funding. 

“All I know is they better protect the people,” Nobles said. 

According to the Florida Senate, the amendment also limits how cities and counties can spend their remaining property tax revenue. Allowed uses include public safety, roads and bridges, some education expenses, employee retirement benefits and government operations. 

Jarrett Kelley, a Florida State University student, also opposed the amendment. He questioned how communities with fewer sources of revenue would make up for any reduction in property tax collections. 

One of Kelley’s main concerns was that some communities might only be able to afford basic services such as police, fire protection and trash collection. 

“You can only have what you need to survive and nothing, nothing more,” Kelley said. “I just don’t like that idea as a whole.” 

For Kayla Hayes, a Tallahassee native who attends Tallahassee State College, uncertainty about how Amendment 3 could affect homeowners and the broader community influenced her decision at the polls. 

“I just kind of leaned against it personally because I really didn’t fully understand what was being like asked,” Hayes said. 

Hayes said she spoke with family and friends about the amendment but still had questions about how it could affect homeowners and the community. 

“I understand that, you know, the potential savings is appealing,” Hayes said. When asked whether the amendment had been clearly explained, she said, “I wish there was a better explanation.”