Suncoast charities warn Amendment 3 cuts could reduce mental health services

Polls open in less than 13 hours for Florida voters deciding Amendment 3.

NAMI Central Suncoast relies on money from Sarasota and Manatee counties to pay for free peer support and education classes. Colleen O’Neil Thayer, the CEO, says the amendment could change how much help the group offers. "It could impact the level of service, right, so it doesn’t mean that we would have to shut our doors and not serve anyone, but it definitely could impact the amount of support groups we could provide in our community or the education classes," Thayer said.

Jennifer Propsem found NAMI in 2020 when her daughter faced severe mental health issues. She described a system full of dead ends, where providers rejected her daughter for being too young or for insurance reasons. NAMI connected her with a parent who had faced similar struggles. Propsem now works for the organization to help other families. She says the need for support is rising and the group is near its capacity limit. "If our services were cut in any way, especially for the family and youth programs, it would be very detrimental," Propsem said.

United Way Suncoast expects nonprofits to handle more clients while receiving less government money. Kourtney Sanchez, the CEO, warned that charities will have to bridge larger gaps created by budget cuts. She noted that private donations cannot replace the lost public funds. "Nonprofits are going to be bridging issues larger than they had previously because of gaps created by Amendment 3 budget cuts," Sanchez said.

Both organizations said they are preparing for potential changes but have not taken a formal stance on the amendment. They are working to inform the community about the possible effects on local services. Amendment 3 will determine the property tax relief available to some homeowners.

Voters in Florida will cast ballots on the measure on Election Day.