Hillsborough County would not benefit from a grant pledge Gov. Ron DeSantis made Thursday to help communities absorb property tax losses if Amendment 3 passes. The governor's offer, made to reporters in Melbourne, covers only Florida's 32 rural counties. Hillsborough, home to Apollo Beach and Ruskin, is not classified as rural.

Amendment 3 would raise Florida's homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 for all nonschool local taxes. It would also lower the annual assessment cap on nonhomestead properties from 10% to 5%. The measure needs 60% voter approval on Nov. 3 and would take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

DeSantis framed the grants as a safety net funded by the state budget. He said offsetting lost homestead revenue across those rural counties would cost about $200 million a year, drawn from a budget he put at $117 billion with a $17 billion to $18 billion surplus, ClickOrlando reported.

"If you have a police department, and let's say they — 'We're going to have to lay off two police officers because we're $250,000 short' — we can then issue a grant from the state's surplus," DeSantis told reporters, WFLA reported. He cited water management districts as another example.

No legislation, executive order or formal program backs the pledge. DeSantis made the commitment orally.

Statewide losses far exceed the grant offer

The projected statewide losses dwarf the rural grant figure. The Florida Revenue Estimating Conference projects Amendment 3 would cut local nonschool tax collections by $4.95 billion in fiscal year 2027-28 and $8.78 billion the following year, Florida Politics reported. Recurring annual losses would reach an estimated $11.86 billion. The amendment includes no built-in mechanism to replace that revenue.

Hillsborough and Tampa face steep revenue cuts

Closer to home, the Children's Board of Hillsborough County would lose $33.9 million over the next two budget cycles, a September report by the Florida Policy Institute found. That report said the cuts could hit out-of-school programs, child care, early learning and neighborhood resource centers.

The city of Tampa estimates it would lose $35 million to $40 million in tax revenue in fiscal year 2028, growing to $71 million to $74 million by 2032, WTSP reported. Dennis Rogero, Tampa's chief financial officer, said Sept. 7 that the city was "sustaining operations but with an eye toward pausing, reflecting and if necessary adapting to a much more hostile world when it comes to revenue."

Sheriffs and Realtors split on the measure

The Florida Sheriffs Association opposes the amendment. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd appeared in a Sept. 15 ad warning that Amendment 3 would drain local budgets and put public safety at risk.

Florida Realtors launched a $10 million campaign in September to pass the measure.

DeSantis also argued that local governments have room to absorb cuts. He said local property tax collections have doubled over eight years, from $31 billion to $61 billion.

Whether Hillsborough County or its special districts serving south county communities would qualify for any state aid under DeSantis' proposal remains unanswered. Voters decide Amendment 3 on Election Day.