Seminole County officials are warning that a property-tax amendment headed to Florida voters in November could gut public safety budgets, with the Sheriff’s Office potentially losing up to 300 positions and $41 million in funding. County leaders say Fire Rescue could see a similar hit, affecting staffing.
According to WKMG, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said his department could face a 20% reduction in funding if Amendment 3 passes, translating to roughly $41 million in lost revenue. Lemma said services are expected to be compromised if the county loses 300 positions and $41 million from his budget. The cuts, per the same report, could also mean a hiring freeze.
Seminole County Fire Chief Matt Kinley said his department could face major cuts and slower response times, the outlet reported. Potential fire-department cuts could also delay capital projects, force the department to dip into reserve funds and leave fewer firefighters on staff.
How the Numbers Add Up Countywide
Amendment 3 could affect Seminole County property-tax revenue and public safety funding, per WKMG’s reporting. The measure could result in a $119 million loss in county revenue overall — a gap officials say would ripple well beyond the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Rescue…