Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spent nearly half of a water conservation press conference in Crystal River rallying support for Amendment 3, a statewide ballot proposal designed to slash property taxes for homesteaders, as recent polling shows the measure struggling to clear the state’s stringent 60% approval threshold with just six days left until Election Day.
The Crystal River Push and the Poll Numbers
DeSantis traveled to Crystal River on Wednesday, ostensibly to announce that his administration was directing an additional $100 million toward 45 water resource restoration and protection projects across the state. Yet, the governor quickly pivoted to the property tax measure, using the platform to urge voters to back the constitutional amendment.
Recent survey data highlights the uphill battle facing the governor’s initiative. A St. Pete Polls survey released Wednesday indicated that Amendment 3 holds 44% support, with 39% opposed and 17% of voters remaining unsure. Meanwhile, a University of North Florida poll published the previous week pegged support at 50%. Both figures sit well below the 60% threshold required for passage.
The Republican Party of Florida has endorsed the measure, while the Florida Democratic Party opposes it. Financial backing for the campaign has skewed heavily toward pro-Amendment 3 efforts, anchored by a political committee formed by the Florida Realtors that has raised more than $21.5 million according to state election records. Conversely, opposing committees—Floridians for Shared Prosperity and Vote No on 3 Florida—have raised a combined $1.3 million.
Weighing Local Revenue Losses Against Taxpayer Relief
State economists estimate that Amendment 3 would reduce revenue by $5 billion in its first year and as much as $12 billion annually when fully implemented. Critics, including local officials and law enforcement agencies, argue the sweeping cuts would force severe reductions in essential municipal services and public safety funding.
This is a foolish constitutional amendment proposal. We already have a maxed out rainy day fund and have run the largest surpluses in state history.Any additional revenue should be used for lower taxes, including assisting local governments with grants so that homestead… https://t.co/umP260lF1A
Jennifer “Cookie” Pritt, executive director of the Florida Police Chiefs Association, voiced those exact concerns during a Wednesday press conference in Jacksonville. Before you vote, ask yourself one question: Where will the money for your local police come from?
Pritt said. If no one can give you a straight answer, that tells you what you need to know about Amendment 3.
DeSantis countered those warnings by pointing to the sharp growth in local property tax collections over the past several years. He noted that local governments collected $32 billion in property tax revenues in 2019, a figure that has since surged to $62 billion—an increase he argues far outpaces inflation and population growth.
My question is for those who say that we won’t have any services if Amendment 3 passes, did we not have services in 2019?
DeSantis asked in Crystal River. So, don’t tell me we can’t give our homesteaders a relief. We can do it. One hundred percent.
Uncertain Legislative Backstops and Voter Turnout Worries
The path to passage has faced internal political friction from the start. Although DeSantis served as the primary catalyst in placing the property tax cut proposal before voters over a year and a half ago, he initially declined to campaign for it after the Republican-controlled Legislature enacted modifications to his original language in June. He has since reversed course, defending the measure in roundtables and press briefings, though he has refrained from running dedicated campaign ads.
To mitigate potential budget shortfalls for municipalities, DeSantis has insisted he will work with the Legislature to establish a fund for fiscally constrained and bedroom communities—such as those in the Tampa Bay area—allowing them to apply for aid to cover critical needs like hiring police officers. However, lawmakers previously rejected a provision in the governor’s initial proposal that would have created a state trust fund for local revenue shortfalls, leaving no guarantees that the Legislature will act during the roughly two months remaining in DeSantis’s term.
Beyond the policy debate, the governor expressed unease regarding current voter participation trends. Data from the University of Florida Election Lab shows that more than 3.7 million Floridians have already cast ballots through vote-by-mail and early voting, with registered Republicans holding a narrow 1.2% edge over registered Democrats at 40.2% to 39%, while independent and third-party voters comprise 21% of the total.
I think that we need to do a better job of early voting,
DeSantis said. Republicans have some work to do, and you guys just got to get out there and vote and then let the people’s will carry the day.
