Florida voters approved Amendment 3, which raises the homestead exemption in 2027, and Palm Beach County renewed its school tax. Katherine Waldron won District 6.
Florida voters approved Amendment 3 on Tuesday. It raises the homestead exemption on non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. Palm Beach County voters also renewed the school district’s 1-mill property tax and approved two county bond questions.
In Wellington’s County Commission seat, District 6, Democrat Katherine Waldron defeated Republican Commissioner Sara Baxter.
All results are unofficial. The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections’ results page showed all 814 precincts reporting at 2:58 a.m. Wednesday, with some mail ballots still to be counted. The statewide amendment figures come from the Florida Division of Elections’ election night results.
The results that touch Wellington
| Question or race | Result | Yes or winner | No or runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 3, homestead exemption (statewide) | Passes | 61.98% | 38.02% |
| School district 1-mill tax renewal (county) | Passes | 76.87% | 23.13% |
| County parks bonds | Passes | 66.17% | 33.83% |
| Library District bonds, up to $175 million | Passes | 63.57% | 36.43% |
| County Commission, District 6 | Waldron wins | Waldron 58.21% | Baxter 41.79% |
| Amendment 1, budget stabilization fund (statewide) | Fails | 40.9% | 59.1% |
| Amendment 2, farm equipment tax exemption (statewide) | Fails | 58.21% | 41.79% |
In Palm Beach County, 576,527 ballots were cast out of 889,577 registered voters. That is a turnout of 64.81%, according to the Supervisor of Elections.
Amendment 3: what changes for homeowners
Constitutional amendments need 60% of the vote statewide. Amendment 3 drew 4,917,796 yes votes and 3,016,195 no votes, or 61.98%, in the state’s election night count. In Palm Beach County it passed with 326,522 yes votes to 217,637 no, exactly 60.00%.
The other two amendments fell short statewide. In Palm Beach County, Amendment 1 drew 40.75% yes and Amendment 2 drew 53.96% yes.
The ballot summary says the amendment:
- raises the homestead exemption for all non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then adjusts it for inflation
- gives people who are not Florida residents on Dec. 31, 2026, the existing exemption at first, with the larger one starting in their fifth year of exemption
- cuts the yearly cap on assessment increases for non-homestead property from 10% to 5%
- limits what counties and cities may spend property taxes on, such as public safety, schools, infrastructure, natural resources, debt and employee retirement, unless their governing body approves other spending
- takes effect Jan. 1, 2027
The larger exemption does not apply to school taxes. Village, county and other non-school levies on a Wellington tax bill are the ones it reduces. Our property tax guide shows how a Wellington bill is split.
School tax renewed through 2031
The School District of Palm Beach County says its referendum was approved by voters. The 1-mill levy continues from July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2031. It is a renewal of a tax in place since 2019, not a new one.
The ballot question passed with 411,632 votes to 123,851, according to the Supervisor of Elections. The district says the money is split this way:
- 50% for teacher pay supplements, which it says average $8,000 a year
- 25% for more than 900 teaching positions in arts, music, physical education and choice programs
- 25% for school police, security staff and mental health professionals
An independent citizens committee oversees the spending, the district says. See our Wellington schools guide.
County Commission District 6
District 6 covers Wellington, according to the county’s district map. Waldron received 50,844 votes to Baxter’s 36,509, with all 111 precincts in the district reporting. Baxter is the sitting District 6 commissioner, according to the county’s District 6 page.
County bonds
Countywide, 349,320 voters backed the parks bonds and 178,625 voted against.
The library bond question appeared only on ballots in the Palm Beach County Library District, which runs the Wellington Branch. It allows the county to issue up to $175 million in bonds, repaid over no more than 20 years from Library District property taxes, according to the library system. It passed 231,550 to 132,706.
What it means for you
- If you have a homestead exemption, a larger exemption on non-school taxes starts with the 2027 tax year. School taxes are not affected.
- If you own a rental or second home in Wellington, its assessed value can rise no more than 5% a year instead of 10%.
- Teacher supplements and school police funding continue through June 2031.
- No village seats were on this ballot. Wellington’s next council election is in March 2028. See our voting guide.
The figures will change slightly as the last mail ballots are counted. They become official when the county canvassing board certifies them.
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