Gulfport officials are warning residents that a proposed statewide property tax amendment could reduce City revenue and force difficult budget decisions in the years ahead.
At a June 18 property tax workshop, Ward III Council member Jennifer Webb outlined how House Joint Resolution 1F could affect Gulfport if voters approve it in November 2026.
The proposed constitutional amendment, titled “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” has already passed the Florida Legislature. However, voters must approve it by at least 60% before it becomes law. If approved, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
The amendment would expand the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes. It would increase the exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It also would reduce the annual assessment cap on certain non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%.
For homeowners, the proposal could lower non-school property taxes. For cities, it could shrink the tax base that pays for local services.
Gulfport projects a major budget hit
According to workshop materials, Gulfport estimates the proposal could reduce city property tax revenue by $1.1 million in the first year. Once fully implemented, the city projects an annual reduction of $1.8 million.That loss would matter because property taxes make up one of Gulfport’s largest General Fund revenue sources.
The City’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget includes $6,966,686 in property tax revenue. By comparison, Gulfport budgets $5,427,147 for police operations and $3,372,208 for fire rescue operations.
Together, police and fire cost $8,799,355 — more than the City collects in annual property tax revenue.
That means Gulfport could not cover its public safety costs with property taxes alone, even before any reduction. If the amendment passes, City leaders would have to look harder at other services, fees, reserves, staffing, or future budget cuts.
Public safety complicates the choices
Even if Gulfport wanted to avoid cuts to police and fire, state law could make those reductions harder.
A 2023 change to Florida law allows the state attorney or a city governing body member to challenge a municipal police budget reduction of more than 5%. That challenge would go through the Division of Administrative Hearings.
As a result, public safety would likely remain one of the City’s hardest areas to reduce.
At the same time, Gulfport’s public safety costs continue to rise. Workshop materials show police costs increased by 50% over the past decade. Fire costs more than doubled. Excluding the purchase of a new fire truck in FY25, public safety costs rose 75.7% over 10 years.
That leaves City leaders with a narrow set of options if revenue drops.
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Services could face pressure
During the workshop, City materials identified several programs and services that a major property tax reduction could affect.
Those examples included Fourth of July fireworks, holiday lights in Clymer Park, youth and adult athletics, summer camps and childcare, Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, theater programs, the Catherine Hickman Theater, the Gulfport Casino, and special events.
The City also listed broader operational impacts. These impacts included reduced park maintenance, playground closures, longer permitting and inspection turnaround times, delayed facility and infrastructure maintenance, reduced code enforcement, fewer safety and community outreach programs, and possible staffing reductions or furloughs.
The workshop materials also showed the net costs of several FY26 services.
- Public Works and parks carry a net cost of $1,263,327
- The library costs $1,077,422
- The recreation center costs $1,042,684
- The senior center costs $464,848
- The theater costs $333,063
- The history museum costs $226,745
- GEMS extended mobility service costs $221,969
- Special events cost $121,968
Together, those examples total $4,752,026.
New budget rules add pressure
Another new state law will also affect Gulfport’s budget process.
HB 1329, the Local Government Financial Transparency and Accountability Act, requires municipalities to post tentative, adopted tentative, and final budgets online. It also requires cities to publicly identify possible 10% budget reductions without compromising essential services.
For Gulfport, that exercise would require the City to identify about $2.2 million in possible reductions from its $21.8 million General Fund budget.
If the City excludes public safety from that exercise, the remaining departments and services total about $13 million. That would place more pressure on public works, recreation, administration, community development, library services, and technology.
In practical terms, Gulfport may need to plan for cuts even before voters decide whether the property tax amendment will pass.
Ballot language faces legal challenge
Meanwhile, a lawsuit has challenged the amendment’s ballot title and summary.
The complaint argues that the language is biased and misleading. It specifically challenges phrases such as “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” “ensuring funding for core services,” “protecting small businesses,” and “ensuring fairness for Florida residents.”
Those claims remain allegations unless a court rules on them. But the lawsuit adds uncertainty to the timeline.
The timing also matters for local governments. Once the amendment moves further into the ballot process, state law limits how cities may use public resources to communicate about ballot measures. Elected officials may still speak as individual residents, but cities must take caution when educating the public in an official capacity.
Voters will decide what comes next
For Gulfport residents, the issue reaches beyond whether a homeowner might pay less in non-school property taxes.
The local question is what the City could still afford to provide if a major portion of property tax revenue disappears.
That was the central message of the workshop: property tax relief may show up on a homeowner’s tax bill, but the impact could also show up in City budgets, public safety planning, park maintenance, community programs, staffing, and the everyday services residents expect Gulfport to provide.
The Gulfport City Council’s next meeting is July 7 at 6 p.m.
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This article appears in June 18 – 24, 2026.