Official City of DeLand resource

A city we share.
A future we shape.

Florida’s proposed Amendment 3 could reduce DeLand’s annual budget by an estimated $5.2 million. That reduction would grow to $8.8 million once the exemption is fully in place in 2028. See what it means for your household, explore the trade-offs, and build a budget that reflects your priorities.

Build the budget Explore the amendment
Public Works crew feeding tree branches into a wood chipper beside a city truck

The big picture

Explore a Clearer Picture by the Numbers

Key figures from the proposed amendment and DeLand's FY 26/27 budget

Year 1 city impact $5.2M+

The estimated year one reduction of funding for City services

Explore city services
Approval threshold 60%

Percentage of voters needed for Amendment 3 to pass

Homestead exemption $150K

Potential non-school exemption starting in 2027

Earliest start 2027

The first year the new exemption would take effect if approved

The services that connect us

What Makes DeLand, DeLand

The cost centers included in this exercise account for $41.99 million in net FY 26/27 costs. The videos below explain just some of the work each department does for our community.

01

Fire Department

Fire prevention, emergency response, emergency management, firefighters, paramedics, and other personnel.

$12.57MProposed FY 26/27
02

Police Department

Crime reduction, community engagement, emergency response, officers, detectives, and other personnel.

$17.01MProposed FY 26/27
03

Public Works

Street and sidewalk maintenance, ADA features, tree protection, beautification, fleet, and facility maintenance.

$5.55MProposed FY 26/27
04

Parks and Recreation

Events, parks and green space, event venues, youth sports, and DeLand House Museum support.

$5.05MProposed FY 26/27
05

Community Development

Land-use planning, development regulations, economic development, business support, and project consultation.

Illustration of a planning team reviewing site plans
Planning for what comes next
$1.8MProposed FY 26/27

See the full picture

Explore how the proposed FY 26/27 budget supports the services you use every day.

$41.99M Net costs across these five departments
    Explore the budget

    Understanding Amendment 3

    A closer look at what could change.

    Amendment 3 appears on the November 3, 2026 statewide ballot. If approved, it changes how homestead property is taxed for non-school services.

    1. 01
      $25,000 school-tax exemption

      The school-tax portion remains capped at $25,000.

    2. 02
      Up to $150,000 in 2027

      Non-school homestead exemption in the first year.

    3. 03
      Up to $250,000 in 2028

      Annual inflation adjustments would begin in 2029.

    4. 04
      Assessment cap reduced to 5%

      For non-school assessments of non-homestead property, down from 10%. This caps assessed-value growth, not tax rates.

    5. 05
      A process for future exemption increases

      The Legislature would establish a process for counties and cities to increase exemptions further. The proposal does not set a date for full elimination.

    Eligibility depends on homestead status and Florida residency. New residents arriving in 2027 or later follow a different phase-in. Read the Volusia County Property Appraiser’s Amendment 3 FAQ for details.

    Your home. Your potential savings.

    What Could Amendment 3 Mean for Your Household?

    This calculator shows how the proposed exemption change could affect the City portion of your property tax bill if your home qualifies. It uses a fixed assessed value and DeLand's current 6.1841-mill rate. At a $300,000 assessed value, the estimated annual savings are about $610 in 2027 and $1,228 in 2028. Your actual bill will depend on your eligibility, any other exemptions you receive, what your assessed value is in future years, and what tax rates the City adopts.

    See how Amendment 3 could impact your city property taxes. Find your home or enter an assessed value to explore your estimate.

    For eligible homesteads in DeLand city limits

    Find your home

    Start with your county property record.

    From the Volusia County Property Appraiser ↗

      or try an estimate
      $

      Before exemptions. Not the market or sale price.

      $75,000$1,000,000

      Your DeLand taxes

      Estimated annual amounts

      2026Modeled estimate
      $1,537

      If Amendment 3 passes and you qualify

      Savings & city tax remaining
      YearYou saveYou still pay
      2027$610$928
      2028$1,228$309

      School taxes and other charges are separate.

      See the calculation & assumptions

      Estimated city tax with standard homestead. Search for your property to use its 2026 county tax amount.

      City tax − homestead savings ≈ tax remaining

      Amounts shown are rounded to the nearest dollar.

      2027
      $1,537 − $610 ≈ $928
      2028
      $1,537 − $1,228 ≈ $309

      Proposed homestead exemptions: up to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.

      This estimate assumes an eligible homestead. Search your address to check the county’s recorded status.

      Holds the rate and assessed value constant. Savings are annual compared with 2026, not cumulative.

      Editing the assessed value clears the county record and uses a modeled estimate.

      Check county records ↗

      Future rates and eligibility may change these estimates. Calculation assumptions

      Next, build your city budget

      Your priorities. Your city.

      A City Budget: Built By You

      Which trade-offs would you choose? Close the anticipated FY 27/28 funding gap by selecting service cuts, potential revenue, or both. You can submit when their combined annual impact closes the full $5.2 million deficit. This would only account for year one (FY 27/28) services changes. Additional cuts or fees would be necessary to reach the full $8.8 million gap in year two.

      A few things to note: All services listed include personnel, materials, and operational costs. Additional necessary costs, such as Human Resources and IT support, have already been factored in for ease of use. The City's General Fund for FY 26/27 is $54 million. Part of that money is already committed to required costs like transfers, contingencies, and shared expenses. The remaining $42 million is spread across five departments. In this exercise, you’ll get to decide where you'd be comfortable cutting services to adjust to the proposed amendment. This exercise only includes departments and divisions funded by the City’s General Fund. Services funded by fees or assessments (such as Utilities and Stormwater) would not be impacted by Amendment 3, excluding them from the challenge. Figures use FY 26/27 net calculations, which already account for existing revenue streams.

      The budget challenge

      Your goal: close a $5.2M gap.

      Choose service cuts and potential revenue below to close the gap, then review and submit your plan.

      Gap closed$0.0M
      Net service cuts$0.0M
      Potential revenue added$0.0M
      Gap remaining$5.2M

      Choose what you’d give up

      Check a service to cut its funding. Uncheck it to bring it back.

      0 service cuts selected

      Potential Revenue

      Select revenue options or adjust the millage slider to reduce the cuts needed. Uncheck an option or set the slider to zero to remove it.

      These estimates do not change the property-tax savings calculator above. Fee and millage selections could change what households pay.

      Once you’ve closed the $5.2 million gap, submit your plan to the City and create a graphic you can share. You can click “reset plan” to start the exercise over.

      Your plan will be saved for City review and may be subject to public disclosure under Florida law. Privacy & Public Records (opens in a new tab)

      Questions, answered

      DeLand budget & property tax FAQs

      Understand the proposal, the estimates, and how to use this budget exercise.

      Check the sources below
      What is Florida Amendment 3 in 2026?

      It is a proposed change to homestead exemptions and non-homestead assessment limits on the November 3, 2026 ballot. It requires at least 60% voter approval. The first changes would take effect in 2027 if it passes.

      Would Amendment 3 eliminate my entire property tax bill?

      No. The larger homestead exemption applies to non-school property taxes. School taxes and non-ad valorem assessments can still apply. A larger exemption also does not guarantee that future tax rates will stay the same.

      How does the DeLand property tax calculator work?

      It uses the selected property’s published 2026 DeLand tax estimate when available, or models a baseline for manual entry. For 2027 and 2028, it subtracts potential homestead savings from city tax and shows the annual amount remaining, holding the value and rate constant. Manual estimates use 6.1841 mills. At $300,000 assessed value, the illustrative annual city savings are $610 in 2027 and $1,228 in 2028. It excludes county, school, district taxes, and assessments.

      Where can I find my home’s assessed value?

      Open “Find my assessed home value” in the calculator to search Volusia County Property Appraiser records by address or parcel ID, then select your property and use its assessed value. You can also enter the assessed value before exemptions from your property record or TRIM notice. Confirm homestead eligibility and that the property is inside DeLand city limits before using this city-only estimate.

      Does this tool show DeLand’s entire city budget?

      No. This exercise offers 34 service choices across five departments with $41.99M in net FY 2026/27 costs. It uses the workbook’s Cost Center - Everything figures, including existing revenue offsets, and combines three sports facilities into one choice. Close the $5.2 million planning gap with service cuts, potential revenue, or both. The full city budget includes other funds and activities; consult the city’s published budget documents for the complete picture.

      Behind the numbers

      Sources & calculation assumptions

      Follow the numbers back to their source. Explore the calculation, its assumptions, and the official references.

      How we estimate city tax savings

      Estimated annual city savings

      Additional exempt taxable value × city millage ÷ 1,000

      City of DeLand taxes only
      Rate & baseline

      When a complete 2026 county tax record is available, the calculator uses its DeLand millage rate. Otherwise it uses DeLand’s illustrative FY 2026–27 rate of 6.1841. It holds that rate constant for both future years. One mill equals $1 per $1,000 of taxable value. See the City’s millage rate resolutions.

      The 2026 figure uses VCPA’s published DeLand “Estimated Taxes” amount when available. Its roll and rate status are shown; it is not a final tax bill. Missing or non-2026 tax records fall back to a labeled model using the selected assessed value. Manual entries assume standard homestead. Each future year shows the same baseline minus that year’s homestead savings, leaving the estimated city tax still due. Savings are not cumulative.

      Exemptions & eligibility assumptions

      The 2026 model applies $25,000 to the first assessed-value band and up to $26,411 above $50,000. The proposed model exempts up to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.

      Homestead savings assume eligibility and Florida residency by December 31, 2026. A county record without homestead receives no homestead savings. For a complete 2026 county record, the calculation reduces its city taxable value by the additional homestead exemption, retaining other existing exemptions and capping savings at the city tax amount. The model holds assessed value and millage constant. Manual entries assume no additional exemptions. It excludes future inflation adjustments, other taxing authorities, and non-ad valorem assessments. Future rates and implementing rules may change actual savings.

      Explore the official sources

      Amendment information reviewed . Check the linked agencies for updates.

      City services

      Inside your city