Public safety leaders urge Floridians to vote no on Amendment 3

NOTE: This story originally appeared on Central Florida Public Media’s website.Public safety officials stood shoulder to shoulder, lining the walls of a conference room in Lake Mary on Tuesday as leaders gathered to speak out against Amendment 3. The room was so packed with first responders, some joked it was the safest they’d ever felt.Those leaders are warning voters that Amendment 3 could reduce the property tax revenue local governments use to pay for police, fire and other emergency services.The proposed constitutional amendment would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.Florida Sheriffs Association President Billy Woods said the potential loss of property tax revenue could directly affect his agency in Marion County. Woods estimated his office could lose about $54 million, or about 20% of its budget. He said one of his agency’s budgets got about 98% of its revenue from property taxes.[WATCH: Florida’s Amendment 3: