Broward County and Coral Springs officials explain how Amendment 3 could affect local services and government funding
Coral Springs, Florida – Broward County and Coral Springs officials met with local business leaders Thursday to explain how a proposed property tax amendment could affect the money available for public services, including parks, public safety and roads.
The discussion took place during a trustee luncheon hosted by the Coral Springs Coconut Creek Regional Chamber of Commerce at Cooper’s Hawk in Coconut Creek. County Administrator Monica Cepero and Coral Springs City Manager Catherine Givens outlined what they believe could happen to local government finances if Amendment 3 is approved by voters.
The proposal would make a significant change to the homestead property tax exemption. Under the measure, the exemption, which does not include school district taxes, would rise to $150,000 in 2027 and then increase to $250,000 in 2028.
Amendment 3 would also change the way non-homestead properties are assessed. The annual increase in taxable value for those properties would be capped at 5%, compared with the current 10% limit.
For the amendment to pass, at least 60% of voters would have to approve it during the Nov. 3 general election.
Cepero told the business leaders that property taxes play a major role in Broward County’s finances. She said 87% of the county’s general fund revenue comes from property taxes, meaning changes to property tax collections could have a direct effect on the services supported by that money.
County figures for the 2026 fiscal year show that property tax revenue is divided among several levels of government and public agencies. About 32% of the property tax levy supports the School Board, while 26% goes toward municipal services and another 25% supports countywide services. Water districts and other similar agencies receive about 13%, while public hospitals receive 4%.
The potential effect on individual cities could also be substantial.
Givens estimated that Coral Springs could see a $26 million revenue reduction during the first year and as much as $73 million in the second year. The city’s overall budget is about $366 million.
One area she highlighted was parks and recreation, which represents a major part of the city’s services and spending.
“Our parks and recreation department is $20 million,” Givens said. “We have 49 parks in the city of Coral Springs. We can’t just wipe our parks out.”
The comments came as local officials tried to give business owners a clearer picture of how changes in property tax revenue could affect everyday government operations.
Cepero said a reduction in county revenue could create financial pressure across a wide range of services. Those include public safety, road maintenance, parks, animal care, detention facilities, elections, mosquito control, emergency dispatch and human services.
Broward County also maintains 14 regional parks and operates 37 libraries, adding to the number of public facilities that depend on government funding.
For Cepero, the discussion was also about helping residents understand where their property tax dollars go. She said voters should have information about the potential financial consequences before making their decision on Amendment 3.
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At the same time, Cepero emphasized the limits of her role as a county official. She said she can explain how the county’s finances and services could be affected by the proposal, but she cannot campaign for or against the amendment.
With the November election approaching, county and city officials are continuing to explain the possible financial changes to community and business groups. The debate over Amendment 3 is expected to focus in part on the balance between providing additional tax relief to property owners and maintaining the local services funded through property tax revenue.
