‘We can do this together’: Community organizations brace for Amendment 3 budget cuts

Local organizations in and around Osceola County gathered Thursday to discuss how a historic property tax reform could impact their funding and the services they provide to residents.

Floridians approved Amendment 3, which will cut property taxes. As municipalities work to figure out how they’ll manage with less revenue, local organizations that also benefit from property taxes are bracing for impact.

From law enforcement to veterans’ groups and nonprofits, people from dozens of different agencies and offices came together to discuss something they all have in common: Amendment 3.

The historic property tax reform is set to change the landscape for many cities and counties — from the services they provide to the organizations they support.

Joseph Ryan, founder of Heaven Sent Community Services and Veterans Assistance, gathered stakeholders to give them a place to discuss how this change will impact them and how they can support each other.

“We can do this together — I can see on your faces you feel the same,” Ryan said.

Ryan is working to connect several Central Florida counties to help keep services available to those in need, including veterans, seniors and people with disabilities.

“We want to work with you,” Ryan said. “What do we need to do to make things better?”

The workshop was the first of many aimed at preparing organizations and developing solutions to address anticipated budget cuts tied to Amendment 3.