Port St. Lucie would lose over $48 million in property taxes over the next two years if Amendment 3 passes on the November 3 ballot, City Manager Jesus Merejo told the City Council during a summer budget workshop at the Port St. Lucie Community Center on Thursday. The city is not funding 184 requested positions worth $28.3 million, including 25 new police officers and parks staff planned to keep up with growth at Torino Regional Park and the new BMX facility at Tradition Regional Park.
The city has canceled $7.8 million in projects including a study for a new interchange connecting Marshall Parkway to I-95, an inclusive playground at McChesney Park, parking improvements at Riverland Paseo Park, and construction on a new City Hall and parking garage. City employees will not receive a cost-of-living raise in the coming budget. Police Chief Leo Niemczyk said costs continually rise and the only place to take reductions from is personnel, meaning the department will have to reduce its size.
Amendment 3 would raise the state's homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 starting in January 2027, and to $250,000 in January 2028. The constitutional amendment needs at least 60% approval from voters to pass. Scott Samples with the city said the council will reconvene shortly after the November 3 election to determine next steps. St. Lucie County homeowners currently pay the highest property tax in the state, according to Florida tax data.