Overview
- County officials say Amendment 3, a November ballot measure to raise the homestead exemption, would cut local property-tax revenue by billions and reduce Martin County Fire Rescue funding by roughly $9.4–$9.5 million in year one and about $16.5 million in year two.
- A Martin County fiscal-impact briefing and county leaders say those losses would leave two stark choices: close three of 11 fire stations and curtail specialty teams or eliminate as many as 116 firefighter positions over two years.
- The briefing details specific operational effects that could end hazmat, dive and technical rescue teams and ground the county’s LifeStar critical-care helicopter, which county officials say would degrade response for serious accidents and disasters.
- State legislative estimates put homeowner savings from the amendment at about $4.6 billion in year one and $8.4 billion in year two, meaning local budgets face equivalent cuts unless a replacement revenue plan is adopted.
- Firefighting groups including the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association and Florida Professional Firefighters have said they cannot support the amendment in its current form without a clear, sustainable funding solution, and Martin County will present the impact brief to commissioners later this month.