Amendment Three is Florida's hot-ticket election issue this year. In Clay County, alliances among prominent Republicans are fracturing as the election approaches. Arguments and infighting over the amendment have crowded out any real conversation.
The battle starts at the top of Clay County's political food chain. Rhonda Jett, Chair of the Clay County Republican Party, took to the internet last week to oppose all three constitutional amendments.
In her post, Jett says she doesn’t believe the amendments address issues that warrant changing the state constitution, particularly amendment three.
Jett also implied in comments on her post that the amendments weren’t thoughtful or thoroughly studied, comparing them to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Jett’s comments put her at odds with both state lawmakers Judson Sapp and Sam Garrison. Sapp served on the committee that researched and authored the bill and has been an outspoken proponent not only of Amendment Three, but of tax relief in general.
Judson Sapp spoke with a Federated Republican Women's meeting recently and said, “Either you can say enough is enough, and this is a start. If we pass it, we’re gonna do more. It will lead to a full repeal one day.”
He went on to add, “And this ballot will empower us, because again, a little civics lesson in case you don’t know this- things that are in the Constitution we have to take to the ballot. We, in the state house and Senate, cannot touch it without putting it on the ballot. We have to do a joint resolution.”
Sam Garrison, the next Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, recently told Clay News & Views that any idea that there is a way to reduce property taxes other than a constitutional amendment is “pure fantasy.”
Rhonda Jett’s comments miss the fact that the state legislature must change the state constitution before passing any laws on homestead exemptions.
But Jett’s rhetoric matches that of her employer, as in addition to leading the Republican Party in Clay, Jett also works for Sheriff Cook as a part-time “Governmental Liaison.”
Sheriff Michelle Cook has been on a month-long campaign to strike fear into the populace over amendment three, claiming that 911 calls will be answered more slowly and that hundreds of jobs will be cut. Cook’s budget has nearly doubled since she was appointed in 2020.
In a recent interview, Cook claimed anyone supporting amendment three wants to “Defund the Police.”
Sheriff Cook, Property Appraiser Tracy Drake, and Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless have been making the rounds across the county over the last few weeks, attending meetings at churches, political gatherings, and homes to share their reasons people should vote against Amendment Three.
Tracy Drake spoke at a private meeting of CCSO employees and took shots at the people on Facebook who support the amendment, saying they likely “don’t vote or own property.”
That kind of comment has given many people in Clay County the impression their leaders are tone-deaf and out of touch. Instead of debating the amendment’s possible merits and downsides, your leaders have used fear and petty insults to drive sentiment against the amendments.
Today in Green Cove Springs, the Board of County Commissioners will meet to discuss the budget. Despite Sheriff Cook’s claim that her department will absorb all the impacts of Amendment Three, the county has asked every department to plan for a 15% cut in ad valorem funds.
For the Sheriff’s office, this would be an $18 million reduction and would put her budget back in line with 2024, a 64% increase from the budget she inherited when appointed Sheriff in 2020.
While not insignificant, $18.1 million is a far cry from the $35 million Cook claims her agency will lose.
Despite the online hysterics, Amendment Three isn’t perfect and deserves discussion. The clear benefit to the taxpayers is relief from yearly property taxes. The risk is that local governments statewide may have to make hard decisions about the level of services they provide.
Less local tax revenue may give Tallahassee more influence over local governments, as state dollars might be needed for municipalities that can’t make ends meet. State money can come with strings attached.
Many taxpayers are saying loud and clear that despite the risk, the need for tax relief outweighs the problems local governments might face.
Early voting started last week and Election Day is next Tuesday, November 3rd. Find early voting and Election Day locations here:
Follow the money. They want to keep all of theirs while telling all of us to 🖕🏻off.
If an issue needs fixing, our lawmakers need to figure it out legislatively. Full stop.
- R. Jett
Umm Rhonda, we don’t have until 2036 to make this happen.