TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sierra Club Florida joins organizations, nonprofits, and municipalities across the state in opposing Amendment 3, which will effectively gut the budgets of local governments in Florida.
The consequences of this amendment will be devastating as property taxes are a critical source of local revenue that supports county and city parks, land preserves, and other public spaces, as well as public safety, schools, and hospitals.
If Amendment 3 passes, municipalities will no longer be able to fund stormwater management and runoff programs, flood mitigation, and fire prevention and abatement at the level they do now.
As climate change fuels stronger and wetter storms, local governments’ abilities to prepare their communities by constructing sea walls, trimming trees, and other storm hardening preparations will be cut drastically, leaving communities unprotected from the effects felt during the annual hurricane seasons.
In order to make up this revenue, local governments are likely to charge their residents fees to raise the revenue necessary to fund parks and public spaces as well as storm hardening preparation.
Florida voters who are seeking relief and affordability should know that Amendment 3 is, in fact, the most expensive choice on the ballot.
Sierra Club Florida stands against this proposed amendment and urges Floridians to vote NO on Amendment 3 this November.
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