What Amendment 3’s passing means for Oviedo, Winter Springs

The highly publicized and contested Amendment 3, also known as “Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homestead Property Assessments” was approved by Florida voters with 62% of the vote during the Nov. 3 midterm elections, with 99% of ballots counted.

Voters in Seminole County did not feel the same way, with the amendment among the county’s voters receiving a slim 50.09% to 49.91% margin, which would fall well below the state’s 60% threshold for referendums to pass.  

With the amendment passing overall statewide, cities and counties throughout the state will need to make a number of difficult decisions to make up for the lost property tax revenue revenue. This most likely will lead to cuts in services for governments statewide. 

“I did not expect that,” Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek said of its passing.

Amendment 3 will increase the state’s property tax exemption to $250,000 for certain homeowners over a two-year period.

The city of Oviedo is expected to lose about $5.1 million in property tax revenues in fiscal year 2027-28, and $9.2 million in 2028-29, while $4.1 million will potentially be cut from Winter Springs’ budget.

In Oviedo, the City Council and city staff have been preparing since at least June for the cuts. The potential cuts include reduced hours for public facilities, the discontinuation of holiday decorations and the Santa Run, and street and sidewalk maintenance reductions as well. 

Additionally, a number of Oviedo recreation programs will potentially be eliminated, city-sponsored events and celebrations may be discontinued, and residents may see new and increased fees such as millage rates, a fire district assessment and increased ambulance fees.

On Monday, Oviedo City Council approved through its consent agenda a piggyback agreement with the city of Groveland and Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. for possible assistance with putting together a financial sustainability analysis for the city. This would help guide the city in mitigating the potential revenue loss due to Amendment 3’s impacts. It could also be used for a fire fee study on its own, Sladek said. 

“I am actually a little bit excited that we now have data from the voters that shows that, across the state level at least, people are essentially giving permission to politicians to rethink everything and contemplate paradigm shifts,” she said. “I don’t think this says ‘we want to be taxed differently.’ I think this is ‘we want to pay less.’”

Winter Springs Mayor Kevin McCann said voters spoke, and the city will figure it out. But the results could be “devastating.”

“Somebody gave me a hug and said congratulations and condolences,” McCann said.

McCann didn’t want to say what the impacts  would be yet. But Winter Springs Commissioner Paul Diaz had previously asked to see a side-by-side comparison of the costs for Winter Springs to have a police department, versus paying Seminole County to provide it. 

That conversation was shut down before it happened because Amendment 3 hadn’t been approved. 

 “We can’t cut $4.5 million from our budget,” McCann said. “We can’t. It’s not possible. So we’re gonna have to do something. … I fear for people who rent, they’re going to be devastated. There’s gonna be a lot of pain to go around.”

Seminole County similarly began its preparations around the same time, and nearly 500 police and fire workers are at risk of losing their jobs.

County Commissioner Jay Zembower said the first thing the county will do is start holding workshops, figuring out every place that can be cut without impacting services. He said roads, drainage and public safety have to be the top priorities. 

The cuts will likely lead to layoffs and job losses at the county. 

“We’ve got to figure out the good, the bad and the evil,” Zembower said. “Everything is on the table. … We’re gonna have to look at staff. Personnel arguably is one of the largest expenses.”

Oviedo adopted its 2026-27 budget and millage rate in September, with a $102 million annual budget, with nearly $25 million coming in property taxes. It is expected to maintain 2025-26 service levels, as well. 

Abe Aboraya is a Report for America corps member.