Ballot amendment - Homestead exemption
 

I just got the November 8 ballot in the mail. I was aware of the Fire District referendum (still don't understand it) but I was not aware of a proposed amended to the Florida Constitution.

The ballot states:

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to grant an additional homestead tax exemption for nonschool levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of homestead property owned by classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members. This amendment shall take effect January 1, 2023.

Does anyone have any idea how many "classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members" live in Sumter County and what the impact will be on tax revenue?

I don't know the number of people but at a 5.59mil rate for 2023 the impact would be $278 per eligible household.

I would Vote yes for Active Armed Forces and National Guard, but not sure why others included in this amendment. A lot of important jobholders not included like medical people.

There are about 550 public school teachers. The Sumter sheriff has "over" 150 police, plus there are localities with their own force. Coleman prison is a very large complex, I cannot find a number of correction officers but there are over 2000 inmates, so many hundred guards. The Villages Fire Dept has 150 full time fire fighters, again the county and some cities have their own staffs.

Complete guess, 1 to 2 thousand total positions. It is unclear how many would live in Sumter and own a home, but whatever their location, some county will be losing money.

Obviously if you cut taxes for a group of people, to continue to provide services you need to increase taxes for everyone else. How did the legislature pick the winners, and losers in this amendment that came not from a citizen initiative but from our legislature? Did the suggestion of special treatment of groups result in increased campaign contributions? Is this amendment really likely to help hire or retain preferred employees? Why not nurses, preschool teachers, or blue collar workers?

The millage (dollars of tax per 1000 of assessed value) is $10 for every thousand but half of that is school levy. So a 50,000 reduced assessment saves the homeowner $250/yr.

Slippery Slope
 

When you start to pick “special groups” it can quickly come a slippery slope,

Sure, give those people a little help. How about a trade-off. Stop taxing older folks with no kids for education. Kind of a No School-aged Children Exemption.

Professional might include doctors and nurses which would probably be ok but does it include for example lawyers?

Where does one draw the line?

Analysis of the amendment.

I believe it has to be approved by 60% of the voters.

Florida Amendment 3, Additional Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Certain Public Service Workers Measure (2022 - Ballotpedia)

The Revenue Estimating Conference estimated that approval of the amendment would reduce local property tax revenue (except school district tax revenue) by $85.9 million beginning in Fiscal Year 2023-2024.[3]

The following is a 2022 voter guide.

A Comprehensive Guide to Florida's 2022 Constitutional Amendments

I find it to be inherently unfair in that they don't include veterans...as if our time dedicating our lives to the safety of this country didn't matter. One reason they can put this on the ballot is because vets were ready, willing and able to put our lives on the line at that time.

How about instead we pay those people what they are worth?

Agree 110%. It's a slippery slope.

I could agree with active duty military and guard, but then what about vets

Next police and firefighters, ok, but correction officers?

EMTs and paramedics but not nurses, but include child welfare workers?

And of course, teachers---who's got a more powerful union than the NEA?

No more giveaways.

How much should the following professions be paid?
Most of the people that I know who work in those professions have great benefits while they are working and great retirement benefits.

classroom teachers,
law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters,
emergency medical technicians,
paramedics,
child welfare services professionals,
active duty military members of the United States Armed Forces,
members of the Florida National Guard.

it's too wide a spectrum ...and doesn't provide the impact upon the tax base or how those dollars would be made up.

If there are surplus funds, return the money to all of the taxpayers.