Florida Amendment 6: Helping spouses of disabled veterans keep their property taxes lower

Florida Amendment 6 Explained
By: ActionNewsJax.com News Staff
Updated: October 1, 2020 - 1:20 PM

FLORIDA — The Florida Legislature put Amendment 6 on the ballot to help spouses of disabled veterans keep their property taxes lower, even after those vets pass away.

Here’s what it says on the ballot:

“Provides that the homestead property tax discount for certain veterans with permanent combat-related disabilities carries over to such veteran’s surviving spouse who holds legal or beneficial title to, and who permanently resides on, the homestead property, until he or she remarries or sells or otherwise disposes of the property. The discount may be transferred to a new homestead property of the surviving spouse under certain conditions. The amendment takes effect January 1, 2021.”

Dr. Matt Corrigan, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Jacksonville University, says voters will overwhelmingly check “yes.”

“This expands the benefit from the combat wounded or affected veterans to their spouses. I think this one’s easy, because I think most people want to support the spouses of combat-affected veterans.”

However, similar to Amendment 5, this would reduce the amount of property taxes collected by the government, which would impact the funding of public services like police and firefighters.

At least 60% of voters must approve an amendment for it to pass.

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