What Amendment 3 Could Mean for Fort Lauderdale

[0:11] Hello, everyone, and welcome to Let's Talk Lauderdale, the show where we keep you connected to what's happening in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, and all of South Florida.

[0:22] I'm Marv, and every week we cut through the noise and talk about the local stories, that actually affect your life, what City Hall is doing, what's changing in our neighborhoods, new businesses coming to town, community conversations, and much, much more. So whether you've lived here for a few years, just moved to South Florida, if you own a local business, or you simply want to know what is happening around town, this is your local conversation. No national drama, no fluff, just useful news, good people, and the things that make our greater Fort Lauderdale area such an interesting place to call home. So this is a, I guess you would call it a special Saturday edition. Our weekly podcast this week had a guest, and that was Ronit Edridge, the Executive Director of Insights Through Education. So that is the latest episode. So if you haven't caught up, go back and listen to that. That was just released a couple of days ago. So let's go ahead and settle in and get started with what we're talking about this week.

[1:36] I want to start by revisiting an organization that we had on the show a while back, Children's Harbor, as they announce a leadership transition.

[1:49] And Children's Harbor, the Pembroke Pines-based organization that supports teens, families, and young adults transitioning out of foster care, has appointed Teresa Kennedy as its new president and CEO. Kennedy succeeds Tiffany Dhooge, who is retiring after eight years at Children's Harbor and a 28-year career in child welfare. And as she leaves, we remember that since joining in 2018, Dhooge helped expand, the community-based support system for teens and foster care young adults aging out of care, and families working through the effects of trauma and abuse. Now, Teresa Kennedy brings nearly three decades of experience in child welfare, trauma-informed care, organizational leadership, and systems reform. And most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Anti-Trafficking and Prevention Officer at Christie House. Her previous leadership work also included roles with the Florida Department of Children and Families and ChildNet, where she helped advance permanency and independent living outcomes for young people, including work connected to Broward County's Transitional Independent Living System.

[3:15] Children's harbor says its work centers on three priorities keeping children safe helping families heal and supporting young adults as they move towards independence, and in a recent statement Kennedy said hope changes lives but hope paired with opportunity changes futures, One of the websites that I mentioned a couple of shows ago, SpotlightFTL.com, that site is up and going strong. And as I was going through some things to talk about this week, I noticed that a lot of news outlets were referencing SpotlightFTL. But it was weird because it was actually in a reference to Amendment 3, which is coming up on November 3rd.

[4:07] One of the ballot items that is a proposed constitutional change to Florida's property tax system. So one of the things that is on the Spotlight FTL page is a discussion about that, but from Fort Lauderdale's perspective. Now, I want to go ahead and do something I normally don't do. I'm actually going to do a quick deep dive because I think a lot of people may have heard about the homestead exemption or lower property taxes, but don't actually realize it is Amendment 3. It is on the November 3rd ballot, and it's been misconstrued as some people have said, oh, it failed. Well, it has not. It's going to be voted on by the state of Florida. First thing to note is it needs approval from at least 60% of voters to pass. So.

[5:00] What does that mean? And I'm going to give you the quick skinny as best I could. If approved, it would increase the homestead exemption from non-school property taxes from the current $50,000 to $150,000 beginning January 1st, 2027, then to $250,000 beginning January 1st in 2028. The amount would then be indexed for inflation after that. School district taxes are excluded from this added exemption. So, this would require the legislature to establish a uniform process under which counties and municipalities could raise the homestead exemption further, potentially up to a property's full assessed value. Special districts could do something similar, but only with voter approval in a referendum.

[5:59] Now, this would give homeowners who are already Florida residents by December 31st of this year, 2026, access to the higher exemption beginning in 2027. People who become Florida residents after that date would initially receive the existing exemption and generally would not receive the higher exemption until their fifth year, of homestead exemption subject to constitutional limits. So approval of this would also reduce the annual assessment growth cap on non-homestead property. That would include things like rental homes, second homes, commercial buildings, and other non-primary residence property.

[6:43] It would reduce that from 10% to 5%.

[6:47] And then it would also constitutionally limit the purposes for which counties and municipalities may use property tax revenue, to listed categories that would include public safety, schools, infrastructure, natural resources, bond debt, public employee retirement benefits, and governmental operations and administrations. Now, what does this mean in plain English? Well, for a primary residence homeowner, Amendment 3 could reduce the county-city-special district portion of the tax bill by exempting more of the home's taxable value. It does not mean every homeowner's total tax bill drops by that same dollar amount, because savings depends on the assessed value and the local millage rates and school taxes are not covered by the new exemption. So the quickest example is a homesteaded property that has sufficient tax value moving from $50,000 to $250,000 exemption means that an additional $200,000 of value would be exempt from applicable non-tax school levies. And the actual savings would equate the exempt value multiplied by the combined applicable non-tax school rate.

[8:15] It's a mess. I know. But that's kind of what it is and that's how complicated it is. And I give you that to then tell you why that's being a thing talked about in Fort Lauderdale and with the.

[8:31] Spotlight FTL website. The other side of the conversation is what happens to city and county budgets when a larger portion of property value is exempt from taxation. Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen says that the city, this is the city of Fort Lauderdale, estimates the amendment could reduce city revenue by about $17 million in 2028, and that impact could grow by an additional $27 million in 2029.

[9:08] The city says roughly 48 cents of every dollar in its budget comes from property taxes. So a reduction does not just disappear on paper. It can influence hiring, contracts, long-term planning, maintenance, parts and recreation, emergency management, as well as ocean rescue. And of course, we know this is bigger than just the city of Fort Lauderdale. An analysis cited by NBC6 from the Florida Association of Counties estimated that Broward county could lose about 326 billion dollars by the second year if the amendment passes, so some cities with a high share of homesteaded properties could feel an even bigger impact, and estimates mentioned in the reporting suggest places as cooper city and Pembroke pines could see reductions of up to 30 percent of their property tax revenue, now one thing to keep in mind that.

[10:12] The language is kind of nuanced here these are projections this is not money that has already been cut, and if voters approve the amendment city and county leaders would still need to make their own budget decisions about how to respond but this is exactly why the city is trying to get ahead of the issue, so the bottom line homeowners may see a tax benefit while local governments could have less revenue to provide local services. So before November, Broward residents should understand both sides of that equation and ask how the change could affect the city or town where you live. Now, again, Amendment 3 needs more than 60% of the voters statewide to approve in order for this to pass, and the changes would begin in 2027.

[11:06] As we head into Labor Day weekend, normally I like to run down a list of events that are happening and give you guys some places to hang out, be entertained, and eat. But I'm going to start off this time with kind of a weird one here.

[11:23] If you have a home project sitting on that I'll get to it eventually list, well, this weekend may be a good time to start doing some real homework. The Fort Lauderdale Home Show is at the Broward County Convention Center through Monday, September 7th. This is not just window shopping. The show brings together hundreds of local and national exhibitors covering kitchens, baths, roofing, windows, doors, landscaping, patios, pools, smart home technology, security, interior design, and more. So if you're comparing vendors, collecting ideas, or actually even trying to get an actual quote for a project, this is the one place where you can go talk to people face-to-face instead of filling out online forms and waiting for callbacks.

[12:15] There are also going to be live design presentations there, cooking demonstration, even a kid's workshop on Saturday afternoon. TV personality and design expert Carson Kressley is scheduled for live talks and meet-and-greet appearances throughout the weekend. So the show, again, runs to 6.30 p.m. on Labor Day Monday, so you've got the rest of the weekend to get over there. It is at the Broward County Convention Center at 1950 Eisenhower Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. So if you're planning a renovation or just trying to avoid making an expensive mistake, this is a practical way to spend part of your holiday weekend.

[12:58] For a free, easygoing local event before Labor Day, you might want to think about heading to the North Beach Restaurants and Shops area on Sunday afternoon. The Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a Labor Day weekend festival from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. near Oakland Park Boulevard and A1A. This one has your classic South Florida neighborhood festival feel Live music from Reaxtion Band.

[13:30] Vintage vehicles will be on display Local vendors, food and drinks available from the nearby restaurants and bars, It's a good option for people who want to get outside Enjoy the beach area And do something that does not require a big ticket concert or a long drive The festival is free to attend, And the footprint runs along Northeast 32nd Street from 33rd Avenue towards A1A. It is in the North Beach restaurants and shops districts. If you are driving, organizers will point you towards parking north of Oakland Park Boulevard near Northeast 33rd and 34th Streets, as well as Bridgeside Square, Garage at 3020 Northeast 32nd Avenue. So if your Labor Day calls for live music, local businesses, classic cars, and an evening by the water, this might be a solid Fort Lauderdale choice for you.

[14:30] Now, if you are a food lover and you want to head out west, you might want to consider Doc Reno's ninth annual Bacon, Beer, and Barbecue Festival that is happening Sunday from noon to five in the Margate Sports Complex. The concept is pretty straightforward and honestly, it does not need much help selling itself. It has been a mainstay for quite a long time. South Florida restaurants and food trucks will compete for bragging rights in categories including Best Bacon and Best Barbecue.

[15:04] You as visitors get the chance to sample offerings, enjoy music, browse vendors, and cast a vote for the People's Choice winner. There's also activities for kids. There's artisan vendors. There's a silent auction. So it's designed to work more than just a quick food stop. Again, admission is free. Although you may want to bring some money if you plan to eat, drink, or shop. Again, this takes place at the Margate Sports Complex. That is at 1695 Banks Road. And it's a good Labor Day weekend event. That does not mean you have to go all the way to Miami or Palm Beach or east to the beach.

[15:44] So there's going to be some nostalgia happening as well this weekend. Saver Cinema in Fort Lauderdale is hosting Remembering Dolly on Monday evening. The program begins at 6 p.m. The Saver Cinema is at 503 Southeast 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. And the main feature is a screening of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which is a 1982 film starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds. It's not just a standard movie night. The event also includes appearances by local musicians.

[16:23] Malcolm Flavel of the James Malcolm Band and Americana folk artist Morgan Maywood will be in attendance. This is a community event, so a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Broward Public Library Foundation's children book programs, so it is an opportunity to enjoy a classic movie while supporting literacy efforts for local kids. Tickets are listed at $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. And just remember that it is Labor Day, so give yourself a little extra time for parking and getting settled in before the show starts.

[17:04] Well, let's not forget Hollywood. The South Florida Chamber Ensemble is presenting its annual September 11 Memorial Concert from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. At the Boulevard Heights Community Center. The program is described as a concert honoring the heroism of Americans on September 11 and sharing stories of courage and strength. With the 25th anniversary of the attacks approaching later this week, the timing gives the program added significance for people who want a community setting for the remembrance. The concert is free and again takes place at Boulevard Heights Community Center. That is at 6770 Garfield Street in Hollywood. It's a short program, just an hour.

[17:54] There's also a second performance plan for Wednesday, September 9th at 1 p.m. This will be a little further north at the Coconut Creek Community Center for people who cannot make the Labor Day program.

[18:07] And I'm going to quickly run through some other arts and culture events. I'm not going to explain them, but there will be links in the show notes. If you're looking for a low-key daytime activity that is both local and free, Fort Lauderdale has an exhibit worth checking out. It's called Timeless Tropics, Fort Lauderdale's Changing Landscapes, and that is running daily through September 13th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Lauderdale. On Wednesday, September 9th, the Broward Women's Chorus, it's presenting its September sing at the Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale. Thursday, September 10th at 6.30 p.m., The Stonewall National Museum, Archives, and Library is continuing its monthly film series on Thursday, and it will have a free screening of the movie weekend.

[19:03] And last, on September 12th, next Saturday, Tito Puente Jr. And his orchestra will be performing at the, and I'm going to butcher this, I apologize, Miniaci Performance Arts Center in Davie.

[19:22] And that is at the Nova Southeastern University, again, Saturday, September 12th. Before leaving be sure to check the official entry link for any of these events check for weather plans parking and last minute schedule changes, so that is it for this edition of let's talk Lauderdale i appreciate you spending some time and staying connected to the stories people businesses and events shaping fort Lauderdale and Broward county, if you enjoyed the show please follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and if you know someone who should be listening, well, send them the episode and the podcast link. If you have a story idea, an event coming up, a local business doing something interesting, or a person that I should talk to, reach out and let me know. Once again, I'm Marv. Thanks for listening to Let's Talk Lauderdale. And until next time, stay safe, stay connected, and let's keep talking Lauderdale.