The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade, which funds after-school programs, school health clinics and early childhood services at more than 2,000 sites countywide, stands to lose an estimated $60.4 million over two fiscal years if voters approve Amendment 3 on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The amendment’s larger homestead exemption would reduce non-school property taxes; it does not reduce school district levies. It would still affect The Children’s Trust and similar children’s services councils in 13 other Florida counties, according to WLRN reporting first published Oct. 29.

That distinction matters for Aventura-area families. The Trust allocated nearly $26 million each year for its HealthConnect in Our Schools initiative, which provides nursing care, behavioral health services and telehealth to 283 Miami-Dade schools, including some charter schools, the Miami Times reported in January. The Trust also funds after-school and summer programs that served 47,148 participants in 2024-25, according to the Trust's website.

Over 90% of the Trust's budget goes to direct services. With Amendment 3, those dollars shrink.

What the numbers show

A Florida Policy Institute report published in September estimated The Children's Trust of Miami would lose $21.5 million in fiscal year 2027-28 and $38.9 million in FY 2028-29, totaling $60,386,742. The estimates are based on microsimulations using 2025 tax rolls and Florida Department of Revenue data.

Statewide, Children's Services Councils and Trusts (CSCs) in 14 counties could lose $278.1 million over those same two fiscal years, about 15% of total revenue, the report found. CSCs cannot easily raise their tax rate to compensate because state law caps their millage.

Amendment 3 requires 60% voter approval. It would raise the homestead property tax exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027, then to $250,000 in 2028. The Legislature exempted the K-12 school portion of property taxes from the increase. A separate provision would lower the annual assessment cap on non-homestead properties to 5% from 10%.

Proponents argue local governments can absorb the cuts by tightening municipal budgets, WLRN reported.

What's at stake locally

The Children's Trust, approved by Miami-Dade voters in 2002 and reauthorized in 2008, costs the average homeowner with a homestead exemption $83.04 per year. In 2024-25, the Trust allocated $234.5 million through 303 providers, serving nearly 200,000 children, youth, parents and professionals, according to the Florida Policy Institute report.

Services include early child care, school health clinics that logged 231,195 student visits in 2024-25, summer youth internships and parenting supports. James R. Haj, president and CEO of The Children's Trust, said in a January statement that the HealthConnect expansion "reflects our commitment to ensuring all students have access to the health services and education they need to thrive."

No public statement from Haj or the Trust specifically addressing Amendment 3's funding impact appears in available records.

'We'll just have to decide'

Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, CEO of the Children's Services Council of Broward County, told WLRN that if property tax revenue drops, councils face hard choices about school nurses, after-school care and crisis interventions. She said state funding rarely covers the gap, and local social service line items have been vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

"We won't go away because it will just reduce the funding, it won't eliminate it," Arenberg Seltzer told WLRN. "We'll just have to decide which people don't get the help."

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.