Should Local Control Be Cut? Bryan Desloge on the Hidden Costs of Amendment 3
With Florida's midterm election just three weeks away, Mikes On Mike sits down with Bryan Desloge, chair of the statewide campaign Vote No on 3. Desloge—a longtime Republican, former Leon County Commissioner, and past president of both the Florida and National Associations of Counties—brings deep local governing experience to the discussion.
While Amendment 3 is marketed as property tax relief, Desloge warns that it functions as a "bait and switch" that would devastate local community budgets. In this conversation, Hosts Mike Miller, Mike Hightower, and Mike Tolbert explore how the amendment could force severe cuts to first responders, infrastructure, libraries, parks, and critical youth and social programs—while shifting costs onto renters and commercial property owners.
Show Notes & Key Takeaways
- Meet Bryan Desloge: Former Leon County Commissioner (14 years) and past president of the Florida Association of Counties and National Association of Counties. Though a conservative proponent of low taxes, Desloge came out of retirement to oppose Amendment 3.
- The "Bait and Switch": Why Amendment 3’s tax reduction pitch hides massive multi-billion-dollar recurring revenue losses for local governments.
- Impact on Public Safety & Services: First responders (police, fire, EMTs) account for roughly half of city and county budgets. Desloge addresses why first responder organizations oppose the amendment and how cuts lead to longer emergency response times.
- Local Control vs. State Preemption: Why local leaders—the ones you see at church, soccer games, and local stores—are best positioned to make spending decisions tailored to their unique community needs rather than a one-size-fits-all state directive.
- Unintended Consequences:
- How non-homesteaded properties (renters, commercial spaces, apartment buildings) could see millage rate shifts to make up for shortfalls.
- Threat to community-level initiatives, including before- and after-school programs, crossing guards, libraries, parks, and social services.
- Campaign Outlook: Desloge shares insights into the Vote No on 3 campaign strategy, the funding gap against Florida Realtors, voter education efforts, and his prediction for election day.
Resource Links & Connect
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