Charlotte County Sheriff William Prummell is warning that Amendment 3 would slash his agency’s funding by $26 million in fiscal year 2028 and $47 million in fiscal year 2029. To make that concrete, $47 million is roughly what it costs to fund 275 deputy positions. The sheriff’s office relies on property taxes for more than 99% of its budget, and 84% of that money goes to personnel, so there is very little to trim before you start cutting people.
The math leaves almost no room to maneuver. The agency’s capital budget sits at about $1.8 million, mostly for patrol vehicles. Even eliminating $4 million in vehicles and cameras would still leave a $43 million gap. Prummell also defended the $7.5 million refurbished Black Hawk helicopter package, noting a brand-new aircraft would cost at least $14 million, which makes the refurbished option the more economical choice.
Prummell made clear he supports property tax relief and responsible government spending, but he called Amendment 3 “the right problem, wrong solution.” He criticized the fast-tracked special session and urged lawmakers to send tax reform through the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission in 2027 instead. For Charlotte County homeowners, the choice comes down to relief now versus the staffing and response times that relief could cost. Where do you land on Amendment 3? Let us know in the comments.
