St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick was absent when Northeast Florida sheriffs gathered to oppose Amendment 3, the property tax measure on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper and Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook appeared at a Tuesday, Oct. 27, news conference in Jacksonville alongside fire and emergency officials, Action News Jax reported. Hardwick and Duval County Sheriff T.K. Waters did not attend. Action News Jax reported it contacted both agencies. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office had not responded as of the Oct. 28 report. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said Waters had a prior engagement.

What's at stake

Amendment 3 would raise Florida's homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in fiscal year 2028 and to $250,000 in fiscal year 2029, with the amount indexed to inflation after that, according to the Jax Daily Record. It requires 60% voter approval. The Jax Daily Record reported the measure could cut local government revenue by $8.4 billion within two years.

Four statewide public safety groups oppose the amendment: the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association and the Florida Professional Firefighters.

Revenue warnings

Leeper said the amendment could cost Nassau County between $31 million and $78 million in revenue. He urged voters to find a path to tax relief that does not sacrifice essential services.

"There has to be a way to have meaningful tax relief without giving up our essential services," Leeper said.

Harold Theus, executive director of the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association, said the state's own economic projection shows the amendment could shrink government revenues by roughly $12 billion statewide. He said 29 of Florida's 67 counties are financially restrained, meaning they require state assistance for core services.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan warned the measure would create cascading problems for cities. "There's just so many follow-on effects that you can not fix with a bill that you passed hastily in 24 hours …" Deegan said.

The speakers said the amendment could force layoffs and deep service cuts across the region.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.