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County budget office: proposed property‑tax reform could cost Pasco tens of millions in year one
Summary
Assistant Budget Director Dan Rizzo told the board that a draft ballot measure (referred to as Amendment 3) could reduce Pasco County's general‑operating property‑tax revenue by an estimated $96.1 million (about 22%) in year one under a $150,000 exemption scenario; commissioners requested more refined figures and public‑education materials.
Assistant Budget Director Dan Rizzo presented a county analysis of proposed state property‑tax reform (referred to in discussion as Amendment 3), saying initial modeling using FY2026 adopted data shows substantial impacts to Pasco's general fund.
"Pasco's anticipated year 1 impact is $96,100,000 — or 22% loss of our property taxes received from general operating," Rizzo said, summarizing the $150,000 exemption scenario. He outlined larger impacts under alternate scenarios (a $250,000 exemption and full implementation) and recommended continued refinement of figures and public education for residents to show how local services are funded.
Commissioners pressed on whether first responders were protected and how revenue losses would be absorbed; staff said mandated services constitute a large share of the general fund and that eliminating non‑mandated services would not fully close the gap. The county asked direction to develop outreach materials modeled on nearby jurisdictions and to return with deeper analyses and resiliency options.
