New ballot language for Amendment 3 being drafted, DeSantis said
A judge ruled the original language was misleading; the state won't appeal and is rewriting it.
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A judge ruled the original language was misleading; the state won't appeal and is rewriting it.
Both opponents and supporters of the amendment have mixed feelings about its language.
The proposal was drafted by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who toured the state slamming the spike in property tax revenues over the last six years by local governments.
Plaintiffs say the amendment's title uses biased language designed to sway voters, not inform them.
CBS Miami's Jim DeFede spoke to former Republican State Senator Jeff Brandes, president of the Florida Policy Project, who is behind one of those lawsuits.
Vote No on 3, also called Stop Unfair Tax Shifts, has raised nearly $23,200 as of July 17, of which $8,300 has been spent, mostly on political consulting.
City staff have proposed cuts to spending on private contractors, aiming to rely instead on internal staff and part-time workers to handle tasks such as filling potholes, painting, and general building repairs.
The likely Republican candidate for governor, Congressman Byron Donalds, said he would vote for it, but as he told CBS Miami's Jim DeFede, if it does fail, they will tackle the issue again next year.
DeSantis said Monday he will vote for the ballot item regarding homestead property taxes, but "what the Legislature did wasn't my proposal."
Gov. Ron DeSantis has made a large property tax cut ballot measure central to his message in his last year in office, and on Wednesday, he signed two bills in line with that priority.
The amendment aims to reduce property taxes by raising the homestead exemption—the value of a home shielded from non-school taxes—from $50,000 to $250,000 over the next two years.
Florida economists project a proposed property tax cut amendment would reduce local government revenues by $46 billion over five years.
The group is called Save Our Voters From Misleading Ballot Language and the two officials are Thomas Campenni, former Mayor of Stuart, and Michael Davey, former Mayor of Key Biscayne.
The specific language that will appear on the ballot is: "SAVE OUR HOMES FROM EXCESSIVE PROPERTY TAXES".
The proposal, which voters will decide in November, would increase the homestead exemption and reduce taxable home values.
Florida voters will decide in November whether to dramatically expand homestead property tax exemptions after lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment.
A major property tax cut plan devised by Gov. Ron DeSantis was changed by lawmakers Monday ahead of scheduled floor votes Tuesday.
The official bill calls for a $150,000 homestead exemption in 2027, followed by a $250,000 exemption in 2028. The legislature would then be tasked with creating a long-term plan for the following years.
While many applaud the proposal, cities are chiming in, wondering what will happen when they lose that income.
DeSantis called for the Legislature to convene Monday to consider his proposal.
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Vicki Lopez said essential services would remain the top priority, but added that the debate could push governments to reevaluate their responsibilities.
Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo released more information on the program during a Wednesday morning news conference.
Any change to the property tax system would have to be approved by voters in November, and it seemed unlikely the House plan was going to be approved by the Senate.
The median property tax bill in the U.S. soared 30% between 2019 and 2024, compounding the financial pressures on millions of Americans.
If 60 percent of voters approve the measure, it would take effect in the 2027 tax year, but the Senate has not advanced anything similar yet.
South Florida leaders and GEM are organizing relief efforts after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction in western Colombia.
Miami-Dade County fines a Redland parking lot owner over $29K for illegally storing 48 semi-trucks, as neighbors raise concerns over noise and safety.
Appeals court ruling could open the door to a flood of litigation against Google, Meta and other social media players.
Despite a rash of foodborne illnesses in recent months, one expert said the nation's food supply is "remarkably safe." Here's what to know.
Temperatures last month averaged 76.9 degrees Fahrenheit as above-average warmth blanketed the U.S.
South Florida leaders and GEM are organizing relief efforts after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction in western Colombia.
Miami-Dade County fines a Redland parking lot owner over $29K for illegally storing 48 semi-trucks, as neighbors raise concerns over noise and safety.
Appeals court ruling could open the door to a flood of litigation against Google, Meta and other social media players.
Despite a rash of foodborne illnesses in recent months, one expert said the nation's food supply is "remarkably safe." Here's what to know.
Temperatures last month averaged 76.9 degrees Fahrenheit as above-average warmth blanketed the U.S.
In courtroom testimony, Shandelle Maycock recounted the harrowing night her daughter was abandoned in the Everglades, describing the horrors they endured.
A former prison guard trainee has been sentenced to death for the 2019 execution-style killings of five women inside a Florida bank.
Florida coach Billy Napier is getting a fourth season to try to get the Gators back to their winning ways.
A Florida man has filed a federal lawsuit against Jacksonville sheriff's officers who severely beat him last year after he ran from a traffic stop.
The Marion County Sheriff's deputy told authorities that he accidentally shot and killed his girlfriend while cleaning his gun.
President Trump signaled he would be piling economic pressure on Iran as the stalemate continued and Tehran laid out new conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, said "I trust the science" on vaccines as measles cases have risen to their highest levels in 35 years.
Sen. Bernie Sanders highlighted the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by outside organizations during the 2026 midterm cycle.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS News partner BBC News, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch.
The measure was approved in a 90 to 6 vote and now goes to the House.
In a statement, Moody attempted to distance herself from the affair, suggesting the blame rests with the Governor and his Administration.
The race to see who will be the Democratic nominee to take on Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar in District 27 is being closely watched.
On Sunday, Collins spoke about the ruling on this week in South Florida and explained why he believes he is trailing the Republican frontrunner, Byron Donalds.
Months after leaving TV news, Rodriguez is competing against former prosecutor Robin Peguero for the CD-27 nomination.
CBS Miami's Jim DeFede spoke to former Republican State Senator Jeff Brandes, president of the Florida Policy Project, who is behind one of those lawsuits.
Despite a rash of foodborne illnesses in recent months, one expert said the nation's food supply is "remarkably safe." Here's what to know.
Federal officials issued a public health alert for meat products containing jalapeños that may be linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people across at least 27 states.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS News partner BBC News, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch.
Two Michigan residents who had "significant underlying health conditions" have died after contracting cyclosporiasis, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said.
Since May, more than 11,000 cases of illness caused by the parasite cyclospora have been reported in 41 states. This comes after the Trump administration drastically cut FDA and CDC staff, prompting one expert to call this summer's outbreaks "a national wake-up call."
AARP is sounding the alarm because it is so easy to fall for these schemes, but there are simple things everyone can do to protect themselves.
A lawsuit filed late last month took Chicago-based McDonald's to task over the McRib sandwich, calling its name a form of false advertising.
Florida insurance policyholders could be seeing some form of relief in their wallets thanks to market reforms made statewide, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
The company said Tuesday that 85% of its retail products and "nearly all" of its school offerings are already made without "certified colors."
Less than two days after Delta Air Lines offered $30,000 to each passenger on board the flight that crashed and flipped in Toronto on Monday afternoon, the company is facing its first two lawsuits in the incident — and they likely won't be the last.
Ariana Grande had been due to star alongside her "Wicked" co-star Jonathan Bailey in a production of "Sunday in the Park with George" in 2027.
Vincent Pastore played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on all six seasons of "The Sopranos," which aired from 1999 to 2007.
Four women say Hollywood star Jared Leto committed sexual crimes against them when they were teenagers, in interviews with the BBC.
Carly Simon, the singer known for 1970s hits like "You're So Vain," announced she has Parkinson's disease and also was treated for basal cell carcinoma.
Paramount Skydance on Friday said it would delay the deal until as late as June 2027.