|
GENERAL ELECTION · TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026
Florida Amendment 3
What the proposed homestead exemption could mean for Brevard County homeowners and county services.
|
WHAT AMENDMENT 3 WOULD CHANGE
|
Bigger homestead exemption
Non-school exemption rises from $51,411 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.
|
|
|
School taxes unchanged
The $25,000 school exemption and school taxes stay the same.
|
|
|
New residents wait
New Florida residents after 2026 start at $50,000; full exemption in year five.
|
|
|
5% cap on non-homestead
Rentals, second homes and commercial: yearly assessment cap drops from 10% to 5%.
|
|
|
Limits on spending
County and city property taxes limited to a list of core uses set in the constitution.
|
|
|
Needs 60% to pass
If approved, it takes effect January 1, 2027.
|
|
|
WHAT HOMESTEAD OWNERS COULD SAVE
Non-school taxes · Unincorporated Brevard · 5.5825 mills
| Assessed value |
Tax today |
Tax in 2028 |
Savings |
Cut |
| $200,000 |
$830 |
$0 |
$830 |
100% |
| $300,000 |
$1,388 |
$279 |
$1,109 |
80% |
| $400,000 |
$1,946 |
$837 |
$1,109 |
57% |
| $500,000 |
$2,504 |
$1,396 |
$1,109 |
44% |
| $600,000 |
$3,062 |
$1,954 |
$1,109 |
36% |
| $700,000 |
$3,621 |
$2,512 |
$1,109 |
31% |
| $800,000 |
$4,179 |
$3,070 |
$1,109 |
27% |
| WHERE THE $1,109 COMES FROM · less collected per homestead in 2028 |
| County general fund |
$569 |
| Law enforcement (Sheriff) |
$169 |
| Fire control |
$128 |
| Library district |
$64 |
| Parks and recreation |
$60 |
|
| Roads and bridges |
$37 |
| St. Johns River Water Mgmt. |
$36 |
| Mosquito control |
$27 |
| Endangered lands |
$15 |
| Inland navigation |
$5 |
|
|
Uses 5.5825 non-school mills from a sample unincorporated Brevard 2025 tax bill and the 2026 exemption of $51,411. Based on assessed value; excludes school taxes and non-ad valorem fees. Rates vary by location and city.
|
THE TRADE-OFFS: WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR LOCAL SERVICES
Homeowner impact
| In favor: Direct, substantial property tax cuts for primary residents, shielding homeowners from rising property values. |
|
| Against: Shifts more of the tax burden onto renters, small business owners and commercial property owners if local millage rates rise to compensate. |
|
Local revenue and budgets
| In favor: Pushes county and city governments to operate more efficiently and curb general fund spending growth. |
|
| Against: State economists project local property tax collections statewide to drop by about $4.9 billion in year one and about $11.8 billion by 2031-32, risking budget shortfalls. |
|
Public services
| In favor: Requires local governments to prioritize core services like public safety and infrastructure. |
|
| Against: Non-school services such as county parks, library hours, road maintenance, stormwater projects and local transit may face delays, cuts or higher user fees. |
|
|
|
Educational only; not tax, legal or voting advice and not an endorsement for or against Amendment 3. Sources: CS/HJR 1F (2026); Florida Revenue Estimating Conference, July 2026; FL Dept. of Revenue 2026 exemption amounts.
|
|
AVANTI WAY
REALTY
|
Debbie Strawhand, REALTOR®
Equal Housing Opportunity
|
|
|
