09/15/2026
Amendment 3 is a change to our constitution with no plan for how to fund public safety services. Local 747 supports tax relief, but only when it is studied, discussed, and provides for ensuring the safety of our communities.
PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS STAND UNITED IN SAYING: ‘AMENDMENT 3 IS AN EMERGENCY’
Sheriffs, police chiefs, fire chiefs and professional fire fighters stood shoulder-to-shoulder today in sharing their concern that Amendment 3 is an emergency. Property taxes fund public safety. Slashing property taxes means politicians will slash deputies, firefighters and 911 emergency services.
“Public safety is the largest line item in over 80% of Florida communities, so it's the first thing cut when tax revenue drops — slower 911 responses, fewer firefighters and Sheriff deputies on the road,” said Edie Ousley, spokesperson for Vote No on 3. “Amendment 3 will strip away millions in public safety funding, but the cost of squad cars, safety equipment, training and hiring deputies for a growing population doesn’t go away.”
WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS ARE SAYING:
Florida Sheriffs Association President and Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods:
“Public safety is about people. It’s the deputy who answers your call, the dispatcher who picks up when you dial 911, and the men and women working around the clock to keep your family and your community safe. Florida’s sheriffs have serious concerns about what Amendment 3 could mean for the local resources that fund those critical services. Our responsibility is to protect the people we serve, and Amendment 3 does not protect you.”
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd:
“Amendment 3 doesn’t protect law enforcement, firefighters or emergency services, it defunds them. You can’t take billions of dollars out of local government and pretend it won’t affect the law enforcement officer who answers your 911 call, the firefighter responding to your home or the roads and stormwater systems your community relies on. This amendment is a train wreck, and if it passes, Floridians should expect fewer public safety resources and slower response times.”
Fire Chief Michael Tucker, Florida Fire Chiefs Association, 1st Vice President:
“Public safety cannot be an afterthought in property tax reform. Fire and EMS agencies are responsible for protecting Floridians every day, and they need predictable, sustainable funding to maintain staffing, stations, equipment, training, and emergency response. The FFCA supports tax relief, but we cannot support Amendment 3 in its current form because it reduces local revenue without providing a clear and sustainable plan to protect the essential services Floridians depend on.”
Read more: https://votenoonamendment3.com/public-safety-leaders-stand-united-in-saying-amendment-3-is-an-emergency/
