Highlands County government: Amendment 3 property tax revenue estimates

Highlands County government

An estimate of how Amendment 3's larger homestead exemption could change Highlands County government's ad valorem property tax revenue, based on 2026 property values and 2025 tax rates.

These are estimates, not forecasts. They hold today's values and tax rates constant to show the effect of the new exemption by itself. Property values, the number of homesteads and tax rates will all change. Property taxes are also not the only source of revenue for Highlands County government. Read the full list of limitations below.

Illustrative estimates only. These figures are meant to illustrate how Amendment 3 could affect Highlands County government based on current data. They are not official. For official information about the county's budget, tax rates and revenue, contact Highlands County government directly. For official property values and exemptions, contact the Highlands County Property Appraiser.

Key figures

This page covers the single operating property tax Highlands County government levies in the 2025 millage table: the countywide levy (7.6000 mills, paid throughout Highlands County, inside and outside cities).

2026 county ad valorem revenue$61.3 million95% of the gross levy of $64.6 million

2028 estimate$45.0 millionWith homestead assessed values rising by up to 3% a year, capped at just value

Estimated change by 2028−$16.4 million−26.7% from 2026. If homestead values stay flat: −$16.7 million (−27.3%)

Homesteads countywide26,27523.3% of 112,764 parcels

Countywide levy (7.6000 mills)

Paid on taxable property throughout Highlands County, inside and outside cities. Estimated change by 2028: −$16.4 million (−26.7%). Homestead assessed values rise by up to 3% a year (never above each home's just value); all other property stays at its 2026 taxable value.

Year	Homestead taxable value	Other taxable value	Total taxable value	Gross levy	Budget basis (95%)	Change from 2026 (95%)	Percent change
2026	$2,677,451,611	$5,818,314,470	$8,495,766,081	$64,567,822	$61,339,431	—	—
2027 (estimate)	$1,042,545,349	$5,818,314,470	$6,860,859,819	$52,142,535	$49,535,408	−$11,804,023	−19.2%
2028 (estimate)	$409,391,103	$5,818,314,470	$6,227,705,573	$47,330,562	$44,964,034	−$16,375,397	−26.7%

If homestead assessed values stay at 2026 levels

Year	Homestead taxable value	Other taxable value	Total taxable value	Gross levy	Budget basis (95%)	Change from 2026 (95%)	Percent change
2026	$2,677,451,611	$5,818,314,470	$8,495,766,081	$64,567,822	$61,339,431	—	—
2027 (estimate)	$989,384,610	$5,818,314,470	$6,807,699,080	$51,738,513	$49,151,587	−$12,187,844	−19.9%
2028 (estimate)	$359,618,909	$5,818,314,470	$6,177,933,379	$46,952,294	$44,604,679	−$16,734,752	−27.3%

What drives the estimate

As with the cities and towns, the size of the change depends mostly on how much of the taxable value comes from homesteads. Property without a homestead exemption, such as rentals, businesses, second homes and vacant land, keeps its taxable value under the amendment.

Countywide, homesteads make up 31.5% of the taxable value for the countywide levies in 2026. Among the three cities and towns that levy a property tax, the homestead share ranges from 17.5% to 21.3%.

The table below shows where the change in the countywide taxable value comes from. Unincorporated Highlands County has 76.6% of the county's taxable value and accounts for an estimated 87.8% of the change. The City of Sebring has 13.6% of the county's taxable value and accounts for an estimated 7.0% of the change.

Area	County taxable value, 2026	Share of county taxable value	Homestead share of area's taxable value	Change in area's taxable value by 2028	Share of countywide change
Unincorporated Highlands County	$6,508,956,553	76.6%	35.3%	−30.6%	87.8%
City of Sebring	$1,159,298,826	13.6%	19.0%	−13.6%	7.0%
City of Avon Park	$499,703,377	5.9%	17.5%	−16.0%	3.5%
Town of Lake Placid	$327,807,325	3.9%	21.3%	−11.8%	1.7%

Estimates use homestead assessed values rising by up to 3% a year, capped at just value. Areas are based on each parcel's tax district.

Property taxes are one of several revenue sources

Florida counties also receive money from other sources. Depending on the county, these can include state revenue sharing, the local government half-cent sales tax, local option sales and fuel taxes, communications services taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, franchise fees, charges for services, and state and federal grants. The mix differs from county to county. Highlands County's adopted budget shows its full set of revenue sources and how much each provides.

The water management districts and the School Board levy their own property taxes. They are separate taxing authorities and are not included on this page.

Limitations of these estimates

Values will change. Market values, new construction and demolitions will all change the county's taxable value. Here, property without a homestead exemption stays at its 2026 value, and homestead assessed values either stay flat or rise by up to 3% a year, but not above each home's 2026 just value. Homes already assessed at their just value don't rise at all, and just values will themselves change with the market. The Save Our Homes cap for 2026 was 2.7%.

The number of homesteads will change. When a homestead sells, its assessed value resets to market value for the new owner. New owners may or may not apply for a homestead exemption. Owners who were not Florida residents on Dec. 31, 2026, receive a $50,000 non-school exemption instead of the larger amounts. None of these changes are modeled.

Tax rates may change. The county commission sets the county's millage rates each year. These estimates hold the 2025 rates constant to show the effect of the exemption alone.

Other parts of Amendment 3 are not modeled, including the new 5% annual cap on non-school assessment increases for property without a homestead exemption.

Discounts and unpaid taxes. Property owners who pay early get a discount under section 197.162, Florida Statutes: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February, with no discount in March. Some taxes are paid late or not at all, and value adjustment board decisions can lower a property's value after the roll is certified. Section 200.065, Florida Statutes, requires taxing authorities to use at least 95% of their taxable value when setting tax rates, and the Florida Department of Revenue's 2026 TRIM Compliance Workbook says each millage rate must include at least 95% of ad valorem proceeds in the budget. This page shows both the gross levy and 95% of it, called the budget basis. Actual collections vary from year to year and can be above or below 95%.

Real property only. These figures cover land and buildings on the tax roll. Taxes on tangible personal property, such as business equipment, and on centrally assessed property, such as railroads, are not included. That property has no homestead exemption, so including it would add revenue that Amendment 3 does not change.

Collection and assessment costs are not subtracted. Commissions paid to the tax collector and the county's share of the property appraiser's budget are not included.

Operating millage only. Any voter-approved debt service millage is not included.

Parcel locations come from the tax district codes on the same tax roll.

This page does not predict budgets, services or how Highlands County may respond. For official figures, see Highlands County's budget documents and the Highlands County Property Appraiser.

Sources and method

Property values and exemptions: The Highlands County Property Appraiser's 2026 final tax roll, as published by the Florida Department of Revenue. Tax rates: the 2025 millage rates the Florida Department of Revenue posts for Highlands County (2026 rates by tax district were not readily available). Parcel tax districts: the tax district codes on the same tax roll.

For each homestead, the estimated taxable value is its assessed value minus the new homestead exemption ($150,000 in 2027, $250,000 in 2028) and any other exemptions, but not less than zero. The gross levy is total taxable value times the millage rate, for the parcels where each levy applies. The budget basis is 95% of the gross levy.

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