The Tax Cut That Sends a Bill
To: News Department
Amendment 3 is being touted as a tax cut, but it will cost Floridians.
Amendment 3 will be costly to businesses and renters. The costs of providing essential public services like police and fire protection, stormwater management, and road repairs will not disappear from local budgets with the lost revenue from Amendment 3. Local governments will still be obligated to provide these services and find new ways of paying for them, likely in the form of higher non-homestead property taxes and service fees that will cost businesses and renters the most.
Amendment 3 will be costly to quality of life in Florida. Your favorite library programs, parks and recreational activities, performing arts, and even holiday light displays will likely be reduced or eliminated.
Amendment 3 will be costly to public safety. Lost revenue from Amendment 3 will likely mean fewer police officers, fewer firefighters, less public safety equipment, and less preparedness for severe weather events. In opposing Amendment 3, the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Police Chiefs Association and the Florida Professional Firefighters agree that the cost to public safety is just too high.
Before you vote, ask yourself if Amendment 3 is worth the cost.
BJ Bishop
President ManaSota League of Cities
One Way Off the Island
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
Thanks for the call this morning to clarify the meeting you’ve got coming up and briefly summarizing what we were talking about after this week’s Commission meeting. Here’s a stab at making the case for barrier islands to be given more authority to regulate development and not be preempted by well-intentioned state goals.
The important and well-intentioned legislative efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing in the state unintentionally treat all jurisdictions the same. Barrier islands have unique life-safety related challenges regarding safely evacuating residents and limited ways to do so when tropical systems threaten. At the same time, barrier islands have challenges with managing current development capacity in increasingly vulnerable areas.
Therefore, while the importance of facilitating affordable housing is recognized, it is also important that the legislature provide more local authority to barrier islands to make determinations over where and how much development makes sense to safely take place.
Allen Parsons Planning and Zoning Director Town of Longboat Key
Perfect. Sorry for the Rush.
To: Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Director Allen Parsons
Thanks so much for this, Allen. It will work perfectly. Sorry about the last-minute request.
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
The $1.4 Million Question on the Ballot
To: Longboat Key Homeowners
As we approach the November 2026 election, I want to share some information and my perspective regarding Amendment 3 and what it could mean for Longboat Key.
Amendment 3 was placed on the ballot by the Florida Legislature and will require approval from at least 60% of voters to pass. If approved, it would significantly increase the homestead exemption for Florida residents who use their property as their primary residence. The exemption would increase to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflationary adjustments beginning in 2029. While this would reduce the taxable value of qualifying homesteaded properties, I believe it is equally important to understand the potential impact on the local services that property taxes support.
Property taxes are the primary source of funding for many essential local government services, including police and fire rescue, emergency management, roads and stormwater infrastructure, parks, libraries, and other community services. Local governments are required to balance their budgets, so when revenues decline, services and expenditures must be reduced or other sources of revenue must be identified.
For Longboat Key, the Town anticipates approximately $1.4 million in reduced annual General Fund revenue once the higher exemption is fully implemented. A loss of this size could affect the Town’s ability to maintain current service levels and fund future priorities.
Our experience with Hurricanes Helene and Milton is an important example of why maintaining adequate local resources matters. The 2024 storms resulted in nearly $30 million in costs to the Town, including beach-related expenses. With continued uncertainty surrounding future federal disaster assistance and FEMA reimbursements, communities may be required to assume a greater share of recovery costs in the future.
There may also be impacts to services provided by Sarasota County. County representatives have advised the Town that significant reductions could affect parks and libraries, including the Sarasota County Longboat Key Branch Library.
The need for essential services does not disappear when property tax revenue decreases. Local governments may have to consider service reductions, changes to property tax rates, non-ad valorem assessments, or other revenue sources to address funding shortfalls. For that reason, it is important to look not only at the immediate tax reduction but also at how the costs of providing local services may ultimately be funded.
Florida will also convene its constitutionally established Taxation and Budget Reform Commission in 2027. This commission meets every 20 years specifically to review Florida’s tax and budget structure and can recommend changes for consideration by voters.
As your Commissioner, I encourage you to learn as much as possible about Amendment 3 and consider both its impact on individual property owners and its potential effect on the services our community relies upon.
I will continue to gather and provide factual information regarding the amendment so residents can make their own informed decisions. I am available to speak with any association prior to the November 3 election and happy to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact me.
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
The County Is Coming. The Rain Isn’t Leaving.
To: Longboat Key Commission
We have received reports from the businesses that flooding is occurring in the business areas. The county has been contacted and they are responding to the area. Unfortunately, the rain does not appear to be letting up.
Karie Friling
City Manager City of Sarasota
I Don’t Know Who to Call Anymore
To: Sarasota City Manager Karie Friling
I don’t know who to contact about flooding anymore. I’ve just heard from a St. Armands resident and from Rachel Burns with the St. Armands Circle Merchants Association that there is serious street flooding, specifically in the area of 29 N. Blvd. of the Presidents, the Speaks Clam Bar location.
Can someone please check this out ASAP before homes and businesses are unnecessarily flooded?
It used to be the case that temporary pumps and generators on trailers would be brought in when needed. The people who were in charge of this have all moved on, and I don’t know who to call about this anymore.
Chris Goglia
President St. Armands Residents Association
I’ll Call You From the Car
To: Town of Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board Member Ron Ginsberg
I am in a Commission meeting this afternoon and will be going to a meeting near UTC at 6 p.m. I will try to call you as I am driving to the 6 p.m. meeting.
We are meeting with the City of Sarasota on Wednesday about their desire to remove the transportation comp plan.
BJ Bishop Commissioner Town of Longboat Key
The Bridge Somebody Deleted
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
Ron Ginsberg here, one of the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Commissioners. I am also, as you know, a member of the MPO Citizens Advisory Committee.
At the last meeting at the MPO, I brought up the issue of the deleted future bridge across the Bay from Longboat Key, and why I thought it was a pretty good idea to keep it as a future goal. I know you were interested in this proposal, if only as a possibility in the future, and I wanted to talk to you about what I learned at the MPO meeting.
Glad to speak with you at your convenience. Thanks!
Ron Ginsberg
Planning and Zoning Board Member
Town of Longboat Key
One Year Later, the Report Is Attached
To: Longboat Key Commission
As mentioned during the meeting, Public Works Director Charlie Mopps provided the one-year report and observations, attached. We will ensure that a copy of the report is placed on the website where appropriate.
Please let me know if you need any other items.
Stephanie Garcia Deputy Town Clerk Town of Longboat Key
Homework Before Monday’s Award
To: Longboat Key Deputy Town Clerk Stephanie Garcia
Steph, this goes along with the FLC award that we are getting on Monday. It was sent to Commissioner Coffin as he is on the Policy Board of the SBEP.
We may want to send it to the other commissioners ahead of the award to see how well the seawall panels are functioning. If you agree, please forward it on to the others.
Charles Mopps
Public Works Director
Town of Longboat Key Public Works
The Seawall That Came to Life
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
Congratulations to you all at the Town of Longboat Key on the Environmental Stewardship Award from the Florida League of Cities for the Bayfront Park Living Seawall project.
Sharing a write-up on the project, including observations made by SBEP and citizen science surveys of the seawall panels from post-installation to one year. SBEP is pleased to be a partner on this project with you all and looks forward to seeing how it continues to progress.
Nicole Iadevaia
Science and Restoration Manager
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Winning Back a Foot at the Fence
To: Longboat Key Commission
I am writing to share the positive outcome of last Thursday’s onsite meeting at Bayfront Park and to express sincere gratitude on behalf of our local pickleball community.
At that meeting, alongside many dedicated local players, I met with Public Works Director Charles Mopps, Streets, Facilities, Parks and Recreation Manager Mark Richardson, and Project Manager David Kushnir. Our primary focus was reviewing the court layout, specifically player safety buffers along the perimeter fences and efficient court access for the center court. This serves as a welcome follow-up to my correspondence from last week regarding quality assurance and site execution on the Bayfront Park resurfacing project.
Thanks to an open, productive dialogue grounded in USA Pickleball technical guidelines, the Town agreed to adjust the layout to gain approximately one foot of additional clearance between the perimeter fences and the outside net posts on the end courts. By rebalancing the interior corridors between Courts 1-2 and Courts 2-3, we successfully expanded the outer run-off zones without compromising the safe, open space between adjacent matches. We also had constructive discussions regarding an additional gate to streamline access to the middle court and minimize cross-court disruptions. These two revisions to the project eliminate a critical pinch point, ensure safe deceleration space on wide returns and around-the-post play, and will significantly enhance the overall playing experience for everyone in Longboat Key.
I want to extend my deepest appreciation to Charles, Mark and David. Mark’s ongoing initiative and dedication to delivering a high-quality playing surface has been commendable. It speaks volumes about the Town’s leadership that these individuals took the time to meet on-site, review the measurements in detail, listen to player input, and act decisively with on-site field adjustments that prioritize safety and the long-term enjoyment of our park. A special thank-you as well to David Kushnir for his time and accessibility throughout this past week. Despite not being a player himself, David showed wonderful patience speaking with me multiple times to understand the specific movement dynamics and safety rationale behind our request.
I also want to specifically recognize fellow community residents Mariena Evans and Mike Eden, whose technical consultation, insights and articulate advocacy during our discussions were instrumental in presenting our case effectively, as well as all the players who attended in support. Having our community present with constructive, unified input made all the difference.
Thank you all for your collaborative spirit, responsiveness, and continued commitment to making Bayfront Park a premier, safe recreation destination for the local community and our visitors. We look forward to the project’s completion and seeing everyone out on the courts, including our new Town Commissioner, George Landry.
Shawn Leven, Liaison Longboat Key Pickleball Community
