On November 3, Florida voters will decide Amendment 3. If at least 60% vote yes, the homestead exemption on non-school property taxes will rise from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028, then grow with inflation.
Supporters argue that homeowners need relief from rising costs. That is a fair concern. Voters should also understand what the amendment would change for the services their cities and counties provide, and the arts are high on that list.
What local governments stand to lose
Property taxes are the largest source of revenue for most Florida cities and counties. State economists estimate that Amendment 3 would eventually reduce local property tax collections by nearly $12 billion a year. Orange County projects about $165 million less in 2027 and about $275 million less in 2028.
When budgets shrink, local governments protect police, fire, roads, and water first. Arts and culture funding is discretionary, and discretionary spending is the first to go. If Amendment 3 passes, local arts funding will decline. The only question is how much.
What it could mean for Winter Park
Winter Park prides itself on being a city where arts and culture thrive. Our museums, gardens, festivals, and public art are a large part of why people choose to live here and visit here.
City leaders estimate Winter Park could lose about $10 million over the first two years if the amendment passes, and staff have already modeled possible cuts. A list reviewed in August proposed reducing $243,500 in support for community organizations, including the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, the Winter Park History Museum, Mead Botanical Garden, and Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts. The same list proposed eliminating $15,000 for the Public Art Advisory Board and the $100,000 Historic Preservation Grant Program.
These are proposals, not decisions. They show where the pressure would land.
The state is already falling short
Any local loss would come on top of state cuts. In 2024, Governor DeSantis vetoed all $32 million in state arts program grants. For 2026-27, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture recommended 563 organizations for General Program Support and $51.9 million to fund them fully. The Legislature appropriated about $20 million, and only 121 organizations received first-round grants.
Florida’s cultural grants go through a rigorous, competitive review by the Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. I’ve seen the process in action as the Chair of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. An approved grant is a vetted grant. Funding less than half of them already leaves qualified organizations with nothing.
A call to the Florida Legislature
If Amendment 3 passes and cities and counties fund less, the state must fund more. Should the amendment pass, I am asking the Florida Legislature to fund, at 100%, every approved grant in three programs during the 2027 session:
- General Program Support, which keeps museums, theaters, orchestras, and arts centers operating
- Specific Cultural Projects, which funds exhibitions, performances, festivals, and education programs
- Cultural Facilities, which builds and renovates the spaces where Floridians experience the arts
I also ask the Governor to sign that funding without vetoes.
Whatever happens in November, you can help. Learn what Amendment 3 would mean for your own city and county before you vote. Tell your state representative and state senator what local arts organizations mean to your community. Share this post with the arts organizations you support.
Tax relief and a thriving arts community do not have to be at odds. If voters choose relief, the Legislature can make sure Florida’s arts and culture do not pay for it.
Sources: WFTV (July 2026; August 30, 2026); Winter Park Voice (August 7, 2026); WGCU (June 8, 2026); WUSF (July 2, 2026).