During a summer budget workshop Thursday at the Port St. Lucie Community Center, City Manager Jesus Merejo told the City Council the city would lose the revenue if the item passes in November. To prepare for the potential hit, the city is deferring projects and holding the line on hiring. Port St. Lucie says it won't fund 184 requested positions, worth $28.3 million, including 25 new police officers and parks staff the city had already planned to add this year to keep up with growth at Torino Regional Park and the new BMX facility at Tradition Regional Park.
City employees also won't get a cost-of-living raise in the coming budget. On the capital side, the $7.8 million in canceled projects includes a study for a new interchange connecting Marshall Parkway to I-95, an inclusive playground at McChesney Park, and parking improvements at Riverland Paseo Park, along with construction on a new City Hall and parking garage.
Brad Keen, the director of the parks and recreation department, warned of deferred maintenance when you don't have the people in the parks to maintain them at the level the city has been accustomed to.
The proposal, known as Amendment 3, is headed to Florida voters on the November 3, 2026 ballot. If approved, it would raise the state's homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 starting in January 2027, and to $250,000 in January 2028. Because it's a constitutional amendment, it needs at least 60% approval from voters to pass. Scott Samples with the city said the council will reconvene shortly after the November 3rd election to determine next steps, whether the proposal is passed or fails.