- July 22, 2026
Regardless of outcome, Amendment 3 has sparked vital civic engagement. On both sides of the discussion, I salute Lacy Martin and Chad Raymond for their insightful guest editorials recently in the Observer.
However, three things are clear:
First, Amendment 3 has left the Florida Legislature, and, despite three lawsuits, the language has been established, and the matter, at this point, is completely up to the voters.
Second, we need to debate this amendment exclusively on its merits and tradeoffs.
Third, the boards of directors of both the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) and the Florida League of Cities (FLC) consist overwhelmingly of local elected officials. Both are 501(c)(3) organizations that are completely funded by general fund dollars generated from ad valorem property tax dollars. If that isn’t a huge conflict of interest, it most certainly is a huge power imbalance between the politicians and the voters.
The FLC website contains a toolbox of resources 100% opposed to Amendment 3 passing. As expected, no mention of any taxpayer benefits.
It crosses the line when education becomes advocacy — when an organization presents one-sided arguments under the guise of education, selectively omits or emphasizes facts to persuade rather than inform, or encourages citizens to vote for or against a particular measure.
To respond to Lacy Martin’s guest editorial, the answer is, and will be until the measure passes or fails, on local government to adjust their budgets. I want a fully funded mosquito control district, a fully funded property appraiser, a fully funded tax collector, and fully funded public safety, just as you do.
If we elect our former house speaker as governor, negative effects will be minimal. If we elect the current lieutenant governor, impacts will be more pronounced, and it will take longer to stabilize, but I have nothing negative to say about him or anyone else in the race.
On two occasions over the last 25 years, I was the public safety government employee in the crosshairs during fiscal corrections. During the most recent occasion, we had to cut $11 million out of a $110 million budget overnight. We did it and reduced crime by double digits while doing it.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is right: If we do nothing and let trends continue, property taxes will be 40% higher in 2031. I think the real question is, during the town halls, locally and statewide, whether the proponents of Amendment 3 will be welcomed on the dais or relegated to public comment. That may answer every undecided voter's question on how to vote for their own tax cut.
Roland Clee served a major Florida police department as a Community Service Officer for more than 26 years. He writes the American Peace Officer newsletter and helps local governments and public safety agencies through his business, CommandStaffConsulting.com.
