State Rep. Berny Jacques, a vocal supporter of Amendment 3, is again challenging a Pinellas County city over how it is presenting the measure to residents.
This time, Jacques is targeting Seminole, accusing the city of unlawfully campaigning against the amendment through information and outside links posted on its website. In a letter sent Friday to Mayor Leslie Waters, Jacques demanded the material be removed and threatened to file a complaint with the Florida Elections Commission if the city does not act.
Jacques has openly urged voters to support the proposal. In a recent social media post, he wrote, “Vote Yes on 3!” and argued that homeowners who oppose the measure can simply decline the larger homestead exemption and voluntarily pay more in property taxes.
When he published the letter Friday, Jacques wrote that Seminole was “breaking the law by campaigning against Amendment 3” and said he was confident Waters could “do the right thing.”
As of Saturday morning, the city’s Amendment 3 material remained online. Seminole’s homepage continued to display a City Alert directing residents to an “Amendment 3 Information” page.
The page does not tell residents how to vote. It links to a Pinellas County analysis of the proposal, along with position papers from the Florida Association of County Engineers and Road Superintendents, Florida Library Association, Florida Professional Firefighters and Florida Recreation & Parks Association.
Under a “Related Reading” section, the city also links to two articles focused on criticism of the amendment. One headline describes opposition mounting and warnings about the proposal’s impacts. The other says critics contend the property tax plan was rushed.
Jacques argues the city crossed the line from informing residents to advocating against the measure. In his letter, he said six of the seven links promote opposition to Amendment 3 and described the remaining county analysis as relying on questionable projections.
“Consequently, the City of Seminole’s efforts likely constitute electioneering communication and are explicitly prohibited,” Jacques wrote.
Florida law gives cities room to provide information about ballot measures, but it also limits how public money can be used to communicate with voters.
Florida Statute 106.113 prohibits local governments from spending public funds on political advertisements or other communications sent to voters concerning a referendum, amendment or other ballot question. The restriction applies even when the communication is limited to factual information.
The same law, however, specifically allows local governments to post factual information on government websites or in printed materials, accurately and impartially report official actions, host public forums and provide factual information in response to questions. Elected local officials also remain free to express their own opinions.
Jacques’ complaint turns on that distinction. He is not arguing that Seminole cannot discuss Amendment 3 at all. He is arguing that the city’s choice of material, most of it critical of the proposal, amounts to advocacy.
Amendment 3 would substantially expand Florida’s homestead exemption for non-school property taxes. The proposal would raise the exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments after that. It would also require lawmakers to establish a process allowing counties and municipalities to increase the exemption further, up to a home’s full assessed value, and would allow special districts to do the same with voter approval.
Supporters, including Jacques, describe the measure as property tax relief for homeowners. Local governments and other critics have warned that reducing the taxable value of homesteaded property could cut revenue available for services.
This is not the first time Jacques has raised the issue with a Pinellas municipality.
Earlier this month, he challenged Largo after the city initially invited former state Sen. Jeff Brandes, an outspoken Amendment 3 critic, to participate in a city-sponsored property tax forum without including a speaker offering a different view.
Jacques warned that the setup risked taxpayer-funded electioneering. Largo responded by inviting him to participate, and he appeared alongside Brandes at the Sept. 9 forum.
At that event, Jacques accused city officials of using warnings about possible cuts to police and fire services to campaign against the amendment. Brandes argued the proposal would shift tax burdens and leave cities with fewer options for funding services.
The Seminole dispute centers on something different. Jacques is not objecting to who appeared at a public forum. He is challenging material the city selected and posted on its own website.
His letter asks Seminole to remove the material and provide written confirmation by Wednesday. If the city does not act, Jacques said he is prepared to file a complaint with the Florida Elections Commission.
The Catalyst reached out to the City of Seminole, Waters and Jacques for additional comment. None had responded before publication.