Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer used his 2026 State of the City address to make the case that the city’s property taxes are a bargain — costing residents fewer than $7 a day — even as he warned that a statewide ballot measure could soon force painful cuts to police, fire protection, road repaving, and park hours. Dyer delivered the speech at The Plaza Live, arguing that Orlando’s property tax revenue is spent efficiently and represents a wise investment in local services that residents rely on daily.
Dyer’s remarks, first reported by the Orlando Sentinel, come as Florida voters prepare to decide the fate of Amendment 3, a constitutional referendum that requires approval from 60% of state voters in November. The measure would begin rolling back taxes on primary homes, creating a $150,000 homestead exemption in 2027 and expanding it to $250,000 by 2028 — a change proponents say would save homeowners thousands of dollars annually. According to the Sentinel’s reporting, an Orlando homeowner with a property assessed at $300,000 or more would save roughly $2,500 a year once the $250,000 exemption takes effect in 2028.
But Dyer warned that rolling back taxes on primary homes would come at a cost, telling residents that reduced funding could force cities to make difficult choices about everyday services. He cautioned that new fees could be levied to make up the difference, and that taxes on commercial properties could rise if Amendment 3 passes — a concern that lines up with the amendment’s mechanics, which would cut the annual assessment increase cap on non-homestead properties, including commercial real estate and rental housing, from 10% to 5%, according to Orange County Government.
What Orlando’s Property Taxes Actually Pay For
The city projects roughly $381 million in property tax revenue next year, money that flows into Orlando’s general fund and covers core government services, per the Sentinel’s account of Dyer’s speech. That funding supports 24-hour police and fire protection, emergency medical response, and the construction and maintenance of 900 miles of roads and 1,200 miles of sidewalks. It also keeps more than 500 traffic signals running and provides access to more than 120 parks, 60 sports fields, 55 playgrounds, and 19 neighborhood centers across the city…