What Amendment 3 could mean for North Port

Published on October 05, 2026

If you have opened your property tax bill lately, you probably understand why the idea of paying less is appealing.

For many Florida homeowners, property taxes are a significant household expense. So when you see a proposal like Amendment 3, which would increase the homestead exemption, it is natural to ask: What would this mean for me?

As North Port City Manager, I believe it is also important to ask: What could this mean for the community and the services we all rely on?

I am not writing this column to tell you how to vote. That decision belongs to you. My responsibility is to make sure you have the information you need to make an informed decision about something that could have a significant impact on local government.

Amendment 3 would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 beginning in 2027 and $250,000 beginning in 2028, with future adjustments for inflation. It would not apply to school property taxes.

For the City of North Port, the potential impact is significant. The City estimates that Amendment 3 could reduce General Fund property tax revenue by approximately $8.8 million initially and $14.5 million annually by 2028.

Why does that matter?

The General Fund pays for many of the services residents interact with every day, including police, emergency medical services, parks and recreation, code enforcement, planning and zoning, facility maintenance and emergency management.

It is also important to understand that the City does not have one large pool of money that can be moved freely from one purpose to another. Many revenues are restricted by law to specific uses. Utility revenues, for example, must support our utility system, while developer impact fees are intended for certain growth-related improvements. Those funds cannot simply replace General Fund property tax revenue.

That is why this conversation is happening throughout Florida and right here in our community.

The North Port Area Chamber of Commerce just held a forum this week that included City Finance Director Irina Kukharenko and other experts with diverse perspectives to help residents and businesses understand the amendment and its potential implications.

The Women's Resource Center also recently brought together more than 75 representatives from nonprofit, business, philanthropic and government organizations to better understand the potential impacts of Amendment 3. North Port Fire Chief Scott Titus participated in those discussions and shared how public safety funding will be affected if the measure passes.

There are reasonable perspectives to consider on this issue. Property tax relief can make a meaningful difference to homeowners. At the same time, voters should understand that reducing one source of local government revenue does not eliminate the cost of providing services.

Whatever happens on Nov. 3, our mission will not change.

We will continue to provide the highest level of service we can with the resources available to us. If the amendment passes, we will adapt. We will look for efficiencies, evaluate priorities and make responsible decisions about how we use the resources entrusted to us.

If it does not pass, we will continue carefully managing taxpayer dollars while planning for the future of our growing community.

My hope is simply that you take the time to understand what is on the ballot and what your vote could mean for North Port.

Ask questions. Look at the facts. Listen to different perspectives.

Then make the decision that is right for you.

An informed community is a stronger community.

Jerome Fletcher is the North Port City Manager. He can be reached at jfletcher@NorthPortFL.gov.