The Associated Press called Florida Amendment 3 approved. Unofficial Florida Election Watch returns checked at 12:59 p.m. EST Nov. 4 showed 4,917,482 yes votes statewide, or 61.99%, above the 60% passage threshold. Clearwater officials previously estimated the city could lose $20 million in property-tax revenue over two years, putting parks, libraries and other services under budget pressure.

The amendment received about 62% of the vote statewide, clearing the 60% threshold required for a constitutional change, CL Tampa reported. It takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.Before the vote, Clearwater officials estimated the city could lose $20 million in property-tax revenue over two years. The city has been preparing for possible impacts to recreation centers and libraries, according to reporting by YourNews.

What the amendment does

Amendment 3 triples the non-school homestead tax exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 starting in 2027, then raises it to $250,000 in 2028. After that, the exemption adjusts for inflation, with a path toward eventually eliminating property taxes, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Homeowners will not see a reduction on their tax bills until 2028, when they pay for the 2027 tax year. But city and county governments may feel the pressure sooner as they begin budgeting around the losses, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

State economists projected the measure could reduce local government revenue by nearly $5 billion in its first year and nearly $8.8 billion the following year, CL Tampa reported. The Florida Association of Counties estimated Pinellas County stands to lose $2.31 billion over five years, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

Clearwater's preparations

City Manager Jennifer Poirrier said before the election that lower revenue could lead to changes in municipal programs, including recreation centers and libraries, \[your\]NEWS reported in September. The city put a soft hiring freeze in place as a precaution.

Poirrier said the parks and recreation department could face some of the largest effects. A planning document includes the potential closure of two recreation centers, along with possible changes involving library services, she said.

Clearwater City Councilwoman Lina Teixeira said determining which services could be reduced would be difficult.

Officials had not finalized which specific services could close or whether emergency services would face reductions as of the September report.

Broad opposition from law enforcement

The amendment was funded almost entirely by the Florida Realtor's Vote Yes on 3 PAC. Nearly every law enforcement entity in the Tampa Bay area opposed the measure, arguing it would decrease public safety funding, CL Tampa reported.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco was the sole sheriff to support it. Nocco, who received a $1,000 payment from the Florida Realtors in July, is leaving his post to run in a special election for Florida Senate District 21. He argued local governments "will become more efficient …" and said politicians in Tallahassee would make first-responder budgets a "priority," CL Tampa reported.

Critics say the reduction will force local governments to make deep cuts in public safety, emergency services, disaster recovery, and parks and road maintenance, or charge new or higher fees to cover the difference, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. Nonpartisan watchdog Florida TaxWatch estimates the amendment will cut local property taxes by $4.9 billion in its first year and $45.8 billion over five years, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

New Florida residents who move to the state after Dec. 31, 2026, would receive the current $50,000 exemption for their first four years and the enhanced exemption starting in year five, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.