Franklin County sheriff confident in handling Amendment 3 tax changes

Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith expressed confidence that his office can adjust to the potential impacts of Amendment 3, which would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes and could reduce local government revenue in Florida, WJHG reported.

Smith noted that Franklin County is classified as fiscally constrained but believes the sheriff's office will continue to provide high-level service despite budget challenges. He mentioned a recent 10 percent budget exercise where cuts to jail-related expenses were considered first.

The sheriff highlighted that many properties in Franklin County are not homesteaded locally, including beach rentals and second homes, which are exempt from Amendment 3 and could help sustain the county's tax base.

Smith also indicated that he has communicated with county commissioners, who share the priority of maintaining public safety. He assured that the department remains prepared to respond to community needs and provide quality service.

It remains uncertain how much Amendment 3 will affect the sheriff's budget until state legislators finalize the details, according to WJHG.