One week after Florida voters approved a historic property tax cut, law enforcement agencies across the state are reviewing budgets and bracing for significant financial fallout.
Last Tuesday, Amendment 3, which provides a new homestead exemption for non-school taxes for residents in the state, passed.
In Flagler County, Sheriff Rick Staly announced Tuesday that his office is reviewing every expense as it prepares for the impacts of Amendment 3, which is set to take effect in January.
“Nothing is off the table,” he said. “We’re looking at everything.”
[WATCH AGAIN: Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly talks about Amendment 3]
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office currently operates on a $66.8 million budget, $52 million of which is spent on personnel. Both Flagler County and the city of Palm Coast contribute to the agency’s budget. With Amendment 3 on the horizon, the sheriff’s office projects losing $15.5 million in its next budget cycle.
Staly said his office has already begun taking precautionary measures, including halting any additional software purchases without grant funding and declining to take over animal control services. The agency has also implemented a hiring freeze.
[WATCH HERE: Governor Ron Desantis eyes special session after Amendment 3 passes]
“All vacant positions are frozen. There is no new hiring. In fact, just yesterday, we had to revoke a conditional offer on the detention side. We will still process people, but they will go on a waiting list until we know how this all shakes out,” Staly said.
The sheriff’s office also canceled a planned purchase of patrol vehicles, meaning existing vehicles will need to remain in service longer—something Staly called “unfortunate.”
Despite the challenges ahead, Staly made clear his office is committed to maintaining the highest level of service possible within the new financial constraints.
“The bosses across the state have spoken, and we will implement what they want,” he said.
