Glades County could face major cuts to fire protection, emergency medical services, hurricane shelters and transportation for residents needing medical care if Florida voters approve a proposed property tax amendment in November, County Manager Paul Carlisle warns.
In an interview with WINK News, Carlisle said Amendment 3 could cost Glades County about $2.5 million a year by its second year, roughly one-quarter of the county’s general fund revenue.
The proposed amendment is expected to provide significant property tax relief to homeowners, but Carlisle warned that small rural counties like Glades would struggle to make up the lost revenue. Unlike larger counties, Glades has few major stores, shopping centers or other businesses that generate sales tax revenue.
“You can raise sales tax 100 percent. It won’t have any effect on us because we don’t have any stores to shop at,” Carlisle told WINK News. “We have gas stations and Dollar General.”
Carlisle said the county already operates with a limited budget and has little room to cut spending without affecting essential services.
One of the biggest concerns is the possible impact on emergency services.
Glades County already shares fire and emergency medical resources with neighboring counties. Carlisle warned that further budget cuts could force the county to eliminate paid fire department positions and depend entirely on volunteers. “If I have to cut my fire down to volunteers, if there’s no volunteers available, there’s no service,” Carlisle told WINK News.
He also raised concerns about the county’s ability to operate hurricane shelters during emergencies.
County employees, including public works crews, office staff and emergency medical personnel, help operate shelters when hurricanes threaten the area. “My public works people, my office staff, we all run the shelters. Our EMS people run the shelters,” Carlisle said. “If those people aren’t here, who’s going to run the shelter? You may not have staffed hurricane shelters.”
Another concern is transportation for residents who need medical treatment outside the county. Glades County does not have a hospital, and some residents must travel long distances for specialized medical care.
Carlisle said the county helps pay for transportation to medical facilities in Fort Myers and West Palm Beach, including trips for residents receiving dialysis treatment.
He also expressed concern about the possibility of relying on additional state funding to replace lost local revenue. “It would be very difficult for someone in Glades County to vote out Tallahassee. We don’t have a voice,” he told WINK News.
Carlisle raised similar concerns in June, warning that proposed changes to property taxes could force the county to make difficult budget decisions.
What Amendment 3 would do
Amendment 3 would increase the homestead exemption for property taxes other than school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 for qualifying homeowners.
That means many homeowners would pay less in property taxes, while some could see their non-school property taxes eliminated entirely.
Property taxes used to fund public schools would remain in place.
Carlisle believes many homes in Glades County would fall below the proposed exemption threshold for tax purposes, making the potential impact on county revenue especially significant.
The proposal is part of a broader debate across Florida over how to lower housing costs without reducing funding for local government services.
Florida voters will decide the fate of Amendment 3 in the Nov. 3 general election. The proposal needs at least 60% voter approval to become part of the state Constitution.