Seminole leaders warn of drastic cut in services if voters approve tax referendum

Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel on Jul 14, 2026

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Seminole County would see a potential loss of up to $119 million in annual revenues by 2028 if Florida voters choose to slash property taxes in November, according to a county budget analysis.

That’s more than the total amount of money Seminole spends to fund its parks, libraries, natural lands, trails, community services, Lynx, SunRail and county administration functions, county budget officials told commissioners during a presentation Tuesday on the potential impacts of Amendment 3.

“We are not spending like drunken sailors, and we’re not all up here pocketing the (tax) money,” said Republican Commissioner Amy Lockhart. “If I could have a dollar for every time I’ve seen an accusation like that on social media …These are real services to real citizens that have real needs.”

If approved by 60% of voters on Nov. 3, the amendment — pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and placed on the ballot, with a few changes, by the GOP-controlled Legislature — would allow a $150,000 tax exemption on a resident’s primary or “homesteaded” home in 2027, then rise to a $250,000 exemption in 2028.

An average Orlando homeowner could anticipate a tax savings of about $2,300 if the proposal is approved, according to an Orlando Sentinel analysis.

But local government officials warn that if Amendment 3 is approved, they would have to either eliminate or drastically cut many services funded by tax revenues that residents have long relied on.

Otherwise, local governments would have to fund those services — such as parks, trails, sidewalks, libraries and community programs, and parks — using other sources of revenue, including through assessments or special fees.

“How do you want us to pay for the services that you receive?” Lockhart said. “We need to know from our citizens how they want us to pay for these services.”

Seminole County collects about $426 million annually in property taxes, and 72% — or $306.7 million — of that amount is spent on public safety. The remaining $119.3 million is spent on other county services and constitutional offices, including the clerk of courts, property appraiser, and elections supervisor.

Seminole has budgeted $28.3 million for its roads and bridges; $11.7 million for the Lynx bus service; $11.3 million for SunRail; $10.1 million for its parks; $9.6 million for its libraries; and $5.7 million for its natural lands and trails.

And public safety budgets — including the Sheriff’s Office and fire department — would not be protected from cuts if Amendment 3 is approved, county officials said.

“Reductions of this magnitude could not be absorbed by a single department or a single service area,” County Manager Darren Gray said. “They would require shared sacrifices across the county government, including public safety.”

In addition, the increased homestead exemption would not benefit renters or businesses.

“It’s absolutely not helping who we want to help the most,” Commissioner Andria Herr said.

Longwood resident Leslie Grubel, with the Seminole League of Women Voters, spoke out against the tax referendum, saying that cities and counties should decide how to tax themselves.

“Local governments should have local control. That is paramount,” she said. “This is an overreach by the state.”

No one from the public spoke in favor of the tax amendment.

Property Appraiser David Johnson told commissioners it’s important local governments educate the public “to dispel some of these myths that are out there.”

Much of the public, he said, “assumes that public safety would not be harmed. None of that is true … There’s just so much misinformation out there that it’s frustrating.”

In August, Seminole plans to launch a web page, distribute brochures, and show videos on the facts of Amendment 3.

Commissioner Lee Constantine said that he believes that as residents learn more about the government services that could be cut, they will vote against the amendment.

“I have faith in the people that they’re going to see through this. That it was haphazardly put together (by state legislators) for political purposes,” said Constantine, a Republican.

“The best thing that could probably happen is the people find wisdom in rejecting this,” he said. “I think people are realizing this is a boondoggle.”

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