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THE SKINNY

• Let’s Try This Again

• Money Literally Down the Drain

• Monday Money Minute

• Improving Innovation

Featured Story

The Amendment That Keeps Amending

Florida rewrites the ballot language for Amendment 3 after a judge ruled the original property tax proposal description was too promotional

A little over a week ago, we told you Florida's proposed property tax amendment had hit a legal speed bump. A Leon County judge ruled that the language explaining Amendment 3 to voters was too promotional and ordered the state to rewrite it in more neutral terms. Well, the rewrite is here.

Attorney General James Uthmeier has submitted new ballot language for judicial review, and while the amendment itself hasn't changed, the way it will be presented to voters certainly has. The biggest difference starts with the title. The original version was called “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes.” The proposed replacement: “Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homestead Property Assessments.”

Catchy? Absolutely not. More neutral? That's kind of the point. The revised summary also strips away language the judge found promotional and instead focuses more directly on what the amendment would actually do: increase the homestead exemption for most non-school property taxes and lower the assessment cap on non-homestead properties.

Here's the important part if you read our original breakdown: Nothing about the actual proposal has changed. The tax changes, potential savings for homeowners, and concerns about the impact on local government revenue we discussed last week are all still part of the same debate. What's changing is what millions of Floridians could actually read when they encounter Amendment 3 on their ballots this November. And that's not insignificant.

Constitutional amendments need 60% voter approval in Florida. The court's concern was essentially that the state should explain what voters are deciding, not help sell them on how to decide. The revised language now heads back for judicial review to determine whether it meets that standard. We've seen a pretty divided response from readers on the amendment itself, and that's probably not changing because somebody rewrote the title. But at least now the title is supposed to describe the fight instead of picking a side in it.

Financial Advice From a Plumber

Stop Throwing Money Down the Drain with Kuma Plumbing

You probably don't call a plumber when you need financial advice. But the team at Kuma Plumbing & Drain has one tip that could save you some money: Stop ignoring that running toilet. A constantly leaking toilet can waste 200 gallons of water or more every day. That's roughly 6,000 gallons a month or 73,000 gallons a year.

And depending on the severity, the dollars can get ugly quickly. EPA estimates show that toilet leaks can range from hundreds of gallons per month from a worn flapper to 4,300 gallons per day from a major malfunction like a stuck fill valve. At the extreme end, the EPA estimates wasted water and wastewater can cost up to $1,400 per month. But the water bill might be the cheap part.

The team at Kuma points out that if water is actually escaping from the tank, supply connection or around the base, you're dealing with a different problem. Water can reach flooring and the subfloor underneath, turning a relatively straightforward plumbing repair into damaged flooring, water remediation and a much more expensive project. And that toilet that's constantly running, leaking or making you jiggle the handle? Something is failing.

Maybe it's an inexpensive flapper. Maybe it's a fill valve, seal or connection. The longer you wait, the more opportunity a small plumbing problem has to become a larger one. So here's today's financial advice from a plumber: If your toilet is running when nobody's using it, don't ignore it. Because sometimes the cheapest plumbing repair is simply the one you didn't wait six months to make.

Monday Money Minute

Is Your Savings Account Ripping You Off?

Quick question. Do you know how much interest your savings account is paying you? If the answer is no, it might be worth checking. The average traditional savings account is currently paying around 0.38% APY. Meanwhile, some high-yield savings accounts are offering around 4% or more right now. That difference sounds small until you put actual money behind it.

If you kept $20,000 in savings for a year: At 0.38%, you'd earn roughly $76. At 4%, you'd earn roughly $800. Same $20,000. Same basic idea of keeping money in savings. About $724 more simply because of where you parked it. And no, we're not talking about throwing your emergency fund into the stock market. Savings accounts at FDIC-insured banks are generally insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category.

There are a few things to watch for. High-yield rates are variable and can change, and some accounts have minimum balances, fees, or other requirements. But if you've got thousands sitting in an account earning next to nothing, it's worth spending five minutes checking the APY. Your emergency fund's first job is to be there when you need it. But there's no reason it can't make a little money while it's sitting around waiting for the AC to break. 😆

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Somebody Else Built It, I Made It Better

A New AI Camera Can Spot Hurricane Damage. I say we up the stakes.

Every now and then a story comes along that makes you think, "That's actually a really good idea." Researchers at the University of South Florida are testing an AI-powered dashcam that can automatically detect potholes, flooded roads, fallen trees, damaged signs, and other roadway hazards after a hurricane. Instead of crews spending two or three days driving around documenting damage, the system could cut that process down to just six to eight hours. It works with vehicles built in 2015 or newer and is expected to be released as open-source software once testing wraps up later this year.

That's impressive. But here's our question... Why are we waiting for a hurricane? If AI can identify potholes, damaged signs, and road hazards after a storm, it seems like it could be scanning for them every single day. Imagine every county truck, school bus, utility vehicle, or sheriff's cruiser quietly mapping potholes and damaged signs as they go about their normal routes. Instead of waiting for residents to report problems or worse, waiting until someone blows a tire. We'd already know where many of the issues are.

Better yet, imagine pairing that information with road maintenance schedules so repairs could be prioritized before small problems become expensive ones. The technology was designed to help communities recover faster after hurricanes, and that's a worthwhile goal. But in a place like Southshore, where we spend as much time talking about traffic, road conditions, and infrastructure as we do the weather, it feels like the real opportunity is much bigger.

AI shouldn't just help us rebuild after disasters. It should help us prevent some of the everyday headaches in the first place. Because if a dashcam can tell the difference between a pothole and a puddle, we'd happily let it ride shotgun on every county vehicle tomorrow.

Southshore Spotlight

Alzheimer’s Association

An Alzheimer's diagnosis affects far more than just the person living with the disease. It impacts entire families, caregivers, and loved ones who suddenly find themselves navigating unfamiliar territory.

The Alzheimer's Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter provides free support groups, educational programs, care consultations, and a 24/7 helpline for individuals living with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia, as well as the families caring for them.

If you or someone you know is facing Alzheimer's, remember you don't have to go through it alone. Help, resources, and a supportive community are available every step of the way.

Nominate your local hero by emailing us at [email protected]

We Know a Guy…or Girl

Southshore Services

Need a painter? A plumber? Someone brave enough to tackle that lightbulb hanging 30 feet above your living room? We've got you. And the best part? They're all right here in our community. Click the link above to find your next Southshore professional because we know a guy...or gal. And now you do too.

Interested in joining the list? Shoot us an email to [email protected]

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Apollo’s Bistro

Some of the best restaurants aren't on the main road. They're tucked away where only the locals seem to know about them.

Just off Apollo Beach Boulevard, you'll find Apollo's Bistro, a local favorite serving modern comfort food, fresh seafood, handcrafted cocktails, and an impressive wine selection in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Whether you're craving one of their popular French Dips, seafood risotto, artichoke cakes, a perfectly cooked burger, or just looking for a great place to unwind with friends over a glass of wine, Apollo's Bistro is one of those places you'll wonder how you missed for so long.

Sometimes the best meals aren't found on the busiest streets... they're tucked just around the corner.

If you’ve got a restaurant, food truck, or even a lemonade stand, it could be featured here. Email us at [email protected]

Local Sports

Our area high schools boast state champions and multiple division titleists. Come out and show your support for these teams and for our community.

Got news, events, or press releases that the Southshore needs to know about? Submit them here. (We’ll do our best to add press releases in our regular rotation.) If you’re looking to run an actual ad, go here instead.

Until next time,

Keep It Local.