Abbott hosts Holmes County town hall on Amendment 3

State Rep. Shane Abbott met with Holmes County residents and local government officials Monday, Aug. 24, at Bonifay City Hall for a town hall meeting focused on Amendment 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that could provide property tax relief to homeowners while reducing revenue collected by local governments.

The meeting was one of several announced by Abbott to provide residents with information about the proposal ahead of the November general election. The Holmes County meeting was held at 6 p.m. and included an opportunity for residents to ask questions.

Abbott told those attending that the proposal presents both potential benefits for property owners and financial challenges for local governments, particularly in rural and fiscally constrained counties such as Holmes.

“The pros are it makes affordability a little more obtainable for our homeowners and our citizens, and that’s a big problem right now,” Abbott said. “The cons are in a town like Bonifay, and in a community like Holmes County, they’re already trying to stretch a couple nickels to make ends meet, so anything that decreases revenue comes with a real strain.”

Under the proposal, the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes would increase from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028. The amendment would also lower the annual assessment increase cap on certain non-homestead properties from 10 percent to 5 percent. To qualify for the expanded homestead exemption, a property owner would have to have been a permanent Florida resident for at least five years.

While the changes could lower property tax bills for qualifying homeowners, local officials discussed the effect the resulting revenue reduction could have on Holmes County government.

County leaders estimate Holmes County could lose more than $2 million in revenue under the proposal. Those revenues currently help fund services including roads and bridges, emergency services, the Holmes County Library, Veterans Affairs and other county operations.

The potential effect is of particular concern for Holmes County because of its status as a fiscally constrained county and the limited revenue available to support local government services.

A significant portion of Monday’s discussion centered on how counties such as Holmes would address the loss of ad valorem revenue and what role the state could play in offsetting those losses.

Abbott explained the amendment itself does not establish the amount or duration of any replacement funding that could be provided to fiscally constrained counties. Any additional financial assistance would depend on subsequent action by the Florida Legislature.

The discussion came just days after Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Bonifay and discussed the proposed property tax changes and the possibility of state assistance for rural counties. Monday’s town hall provided local officials and residents an opportunity to further examine how the proposal could affect Holmes County’s finances and the services supported by property tax revenue.

Abbott emphasized that the purpose of the meeting was to provide information rather than advocate for how residents should vote.

The potential financial impact was weighed against the tax relief the proposal could provide homeowners, with Abbott acknowledging affordability as a concern for Florida residents while also recognizing the difficulties faced by local governments operating with limited revenue.

Residents attending the meeting also expressed differing perspectives.

Holmes County resident Richard Willsey said he supported the prospect of lower property taxes as he approaches retirement but also recognized the potential consequences for government funding in fiscally constrained counties.

Resident Anne Rodgers said she viewed property taxes as helping pay for services she values, including emergency services and law enforcement, while also raising questions about funding for other local services.

The competing concerns highlighted the central issue discussed throughout Monday’s meeting: how to balance property tax relief for homeowners with the need to maintain sufficient revenue for local government services.

Abbott said the town hall was intended to ensure residents understood how the proposal could affect both individual property owners and the community before casting their ballots.

Amendment 3 will appear before Florida voters in the November general election.