After Amendment 3, Jacksonville Faces a $200 Million Gap Next Year and $300 Million by 2028-29: What Council Hears Tuesday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Florida voters approved Amendment 3 on Nov. 3, and Jacksonville city officials are now working out how to absorb the revenue it takes away. The city council auditor estimates the change will cost Jacksonville about $200 million in fiscal year 2027-28 and $300 million per year by 2028-29, according to News4JAX, and Jacksonville Today reported the same $300 million figure. The full City Council meets Tuesday, Nov. 10, and the issue was already raised at a committee meeting this week.

This article reports what the amendment does, what the numbers are and what local leaders have said. It does not take a side on the measure, which was opposed by many local officials and supported by others. Figures are estimates from city and county offices and may change as budgets are written.

What Amendment 3 does

The amendment raises the non-school homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027, then to $250,000 in 2028, according to News4JAX and Jacksonville Today. School districts are excluded from the larger exemption. Voters approved it with about 62% of the vote, above the 60% threshold the Florida Constitution requires for amendments, Jacksonville Today reported.

In Duval County, 56.5% of voters, more than 194,000 people, voted yes, according to News4JAX. Statewide, more than 4.9 million Floridians voted in favor. The Legislature placed the measure on the ballot in a June special session, Jacksonville Today reported.

What it means for a homeowner

The Duval County Property Appraiser estimates that a homeowner with a median single-family homestead valued at $290,000 would save $1,632 in 2027 and $2,674 in 2028, according to News4JAX. The figures are estimates, not guarantees. Actual savings depend on a property's value, its taxing districts and its millage rates.

Savings estimates are from the Duval County Property Appraiser as reported by News4JAX.

What it means for the city

Council auditors estimate Jacksonville could need to cut $200 million from its roughly $2 billion general fund operating budget next year, News4JAX reported. By fiscal year 2028-29 the projected loss rises to $300 million a year, according to the city auditor. News4JAX reported that property taxes help pay for fire and rescue, public safety, libraries, waste management, disaster response, health services and children's services.

Mayor Donna Deegan said the city will make necessary adjustments with the community and the City Council, and that cuts, when they come, will be made thoughtfully rather than within 24 or 48 hours, according to News4JAX and Jacksonville Today. Her office says it will propose a lean and balanced budget in July. Council President Nick Howland said the council will respond and plan accordingly, Jacksonville Today reported.

What council members are saying

The issue came up this week at a City Council Finance Committee meeting, according to News4JAX. District 13 Councilman Rory Diamond said the city could cut funding to nonprofits and developers and still have plenty of money for police and fire. District 14 Councilman Rahman Johnson objected to a discussed 10% cut to the Kids Hope Alliance, calling the reasoning unsound, and said he would oppose a citywide hiring freeze.

Councilman Matt Carlucci discussed ways to close the gap without cutting vital programs and projects, News4JAX reported. Council member Tyrona Clark-Murray said officials will have to decide which services to cut as revenue falls, according to Jacksonville Today. No cuts have been adopted, and no specific list has been approved in the reports reviewed.

Nonprofits and the Kids Hope Alliance

Kids Hope Alliance, which funds children and family services mostly with city money, said in a statement that it is fully funded in the current budget year, receives grant funding and will continue to be funded that way, according to News4JAX. The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida's chief executive, Callan Brown, warned that demand for services will rise and that cuts could bring immediate effects, including staff losses. The reports do not say how large any nonprofit cut might be.

What law enforcement said

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said after the vote that "much-needed relief is on the way for hard-working Floridians," according to News4JAX. He said city leaders have shown a strong commitment to public safety and that he expects it to continue. Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper and Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook had joined other public safety leaders before the election in urging a no vote, News4JAX reported.

The Nassau County Sheriff's Office said it is unknown whether the amendment will directly affect the agency. News4JAX reported that the amendment requires local governments to use property tax revenue for public safety, among other things. The office said its commitment to Nassau County residents is unchanged.

What comes next

Jacksonville's proposed budget is expected in July, and the larger exemption begins in 2027. Government law attorney Chris Hand told News4JAX that local governments across Florida may weigh spending cuts and new revenue sources to close their gaps. The council's next regular meeting is Nov. 10, and agendas are posted on the city's website for residents who want to follow or speak.