With voters set to decide on Amendment 3 this November, Hillsborough County commissioners are already exploring new funding mechanisms to keep fire rescue services running under a leaner property tax structure.

At a Wednesday meeting, commissioners reviewed a report from public finance firm Bryant Miller Olive outlining options such as a fire special assessment fee or a municipal service taxing unit to help cover fire protection costs. According to the presentation, a special assessment fee could fund fire calls and basic medical response, though not advanced life support services. Commissioners were told that adding a single new funding source may not fully offset the change, prompting a broader look at the county’s overall budget structure.

Amendment 3, if approved by voters, would raise Florida’s homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028, delivering meaningful relief to homeowners who have faced years of rising assessments and tax bills. The measure, drafted by Gov. Ron DeSantis’s office and passed by the Legislature during a special session this spring, would not apply the expanded exemption to the portion of property taxes that fund K-12 public schools. Constitutional amendments require 60% voter approval to pass in Florida.

Supporters of the measure argue it forces local governments to prioritize spending and operate more efficiently rather than relying on ever-increasing property tax revenue collected largely through rising home valuations rather than voter-approved rate hikes. Critics, including the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, and the Florida Fire Chiefs Association, have raised concerns that the amendment could create funding uncertainty for public safety services without a clearly identified replacement revenue source.

Hillsborough County’s review of assessment fees and taxing units reflects a broader statewide trend, as county governments begin adapting their budgets in anticipation of the amendment’s possible passage.

Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Google, & X

St. Pete-Clearwater Sun: local St. Pete-Clearwater & Tampa Bay, FL news at PIE-Sun.com