Wellington Tax Rate 2026-27: Why It Stayed at 2.47 Mills (Amendment 3)

Why Wellington Didn't Cut Your Tax Rate This Year

Wellington's new budget is $5.5 million smaller than last year's, yet most residents will still see a slightly higher village tax bill. That's because the Village Council kept the property tax rate at 2.47 mills while home values kept climbing. One council member pushed hard for a cut. The rest said not yet, pointing to Amendment 3 on the November 3 ballot. Here's what was decided, why, and what both sides are saying.

Wellington's FY 2027 budget at a glance

Tax rate: 2.47 mills, unchanged (about $2.47 for every $1,000 of taxable value)
Budget: $150.4 million, down $5.5 million from the year before
Extra tax revenue: About $1.47 million more, entirely from rising property values
The vote: 4-1 to keep the rate, with Councilman Johnny Meier opposed. The budget itself passed unanimously
The wild card: Amendment 3 could cost Wellington an estimated $5.3 million the first year and $8.2 million the next, per Village staff

What the council decided

At its final budget hearing on September 22, 2026, the Village Council approved a $150.4 million budget for the fiscal year that started October 1, the Town-Crier reported. Staff cut $5.5 million through fewer capital projects, eliminated positions, leasing major equipment instead of buying it and having no election costs this year. The budget covers all recurring operations without dipping into general fund reserves.

The tax rate stayed at 2.47 mills. Because taxable values rose, the same rate brings in about $1.47 million more. Property taxes make up roughly 45% of the general fund that pays for day-to-day operations.

What that means for you: the village portion of your bill is your taxable value times 2.47 mills. A home with $400,000 in taxable value would owe about $988 to the Village. That's only one slice of your total bill, which also includes the school district, Palm Beach County and other taxing districts. Homesteaded owners are protected by Florida's Save Our Homes cap, which limits how fast their assessed value can rise each year.

The case for cutting the rate now

Everything costs more. Councilman Johnny Meier argued for a lower rate throughout the budget process. "We should be doing whatever we can to decrease the burden on people out there because things just continue to get more and more expensive," he said. "I, for one, believe we have the ability to decrease the millage rate."
The budget is already leaner. Supporters of a cut point out that if the Village can trim $5.5 million in spending, it could pass some of that savings on instead of collecting more from rising values.
A flat rate is still a tax increase for many. When values rise and the rate doesn't fall, many owners pay more. That's why some residents see "unchanged" as a quiet increase.

The case for waiting

Amendment 3 could take a big bite. Village staff estimated in July that the amendment could cut Wellington's revenue by about $5.3 million next fiscal year and $8.2 million the year after. "If we cut today, and Amendment 3 passes, we're looking at a whole different scenario that no one's going to be happy with because no one's going to win," Vice Mayor Maria Antuña said.
Wellington leans on homestead property. Wellington is largely residential and homesteaded, with a small commercial base, so a bigger homestead exemption hits harder here. "Anything for single-family [residential] has a significant impact on Wellington," Deputy Village Manager Tanya Quickel said at an April workshop.
Savings were already found. "The council is committed to keeping Wellington's tax burden as low as possible, and this budget reflects that mandate," Quickel said of this year's budget. "Staff didn't wait to be told to find the savings."

Even the council members who voted to hold the rate signaled a cut could be coming. Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri said she wants a reduction next year and won't vote again to keep the current rate, according to the Town-Crier.

What is Amendment 3?

Amendment 3 is a proposed change to Florida's constitution on the November 3, 2026 ballot. It needs at least 60% of the vote to pass. According to NBC 6, it would:

Raise the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then adjust it for inflation.
Lower the yearly cap on assessment increases for non-homestead property, like second homes and rentals, from 10% to 5%.
Require counties and cities to spend property tax revenue mainly on public safety, education, infrastructure and similar services.
Leave school taxes out of the bigger exemption. It would take effect January 1, 2027.

Supporters, including Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Tomás Regalado, say Florida homeowners need real property tax relief. Opponents, including the Florida Sheriffs Association, warn that lost revenue could squeeze local services like law enforcement. Mayor Michael Napoleone has said a series of cuts "is going to have a significant impact on how Wellington looks and operates," and noted that "Tallahassee hasn't talked much about replacing the money."

Want to run your own numbers? The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser offers a calculator for estimated homeowner savings, and the Florida Policy Institute built one that estimates revenue changes for local governments.

What happens next

Voters decide Amendment 3 on November 3. If it passes, the Village will have to rework its budget plans for the following years. If it fails, expect the rate debate to come back fast at next summer's budget workshops, with at least two council members on record wanting a cut.

What do you think?

Should Wellington have lowered the tax rate this year, or was waiting for Amendment 3 the smart move? For more on what's shaping Wellington's future, see our stories on the K-Park sale, the Sports Academy dispute and the pros and cons of living in Wellington.

Frequently asked questions

What is Wellington's property tax rate?

2.47 mills for fiscal year 2027, unchanged from the year before. That's about $2.47 for every $1,000 of taxable value.

Why didn't Wellington lower its tax rate?

Most council members said a cut wasn't prudent with Amendment 3 on the November 2026 ballot, which Village staff estimated could reduce revenue by about $5.3 million the first year and $8.2 million the next. The vote to keep the rate was 4-1, with Councilman Johnny Meier opposed.

How big is Wellington's budget?

$150.4 million for the fiscal year that began October 1, 2026, down $5.5 million from the year before.

What is Florida Amendment 3 in 2026?

A proposed constitutional amendment on the November 3, 2026 ballot that would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 and lower the non-homestead assessment cap from 10% to 5%. It needs 60% of the vote.