The Sovereign Pride Presents: The Local Impact — Florida Amendment 3:
About this Event
Florida Amendment 3: The Local Impact
How Amendment 3 Could Affect Community Budgets & Essential Services
What happens when the financial environment of a community changes—and how can residents, businesses and community leaders prepare before those changes are felt?
The Sovereign Pride: Florida Amendment 3 — The Local Impact is a free community-focused educational forum bringing together public-safety professionals, community leaders, educators, business owners and residents for a practical conversation about preparation, leadership, financial resilience and protecting essential community services.
Florida's 2026 general-election ballot identifies Amendment 3 as “Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homestead Property Assessments.”
This event is not for or against Amendment 3 and is not intended to tell attendees how they should vote.
Instead, the conversation centers on a practical question:
If the financial environment of our communities changes, how do we prepare for it?
The program will explore preparation strategies relating to local operating budgets, public safety, emergency response, education, businesses, households, workforce planning and community services.
Attendees will hear conversations covering artificial intelligence and operational efficiency, grants and alternative funding, rebates and purchasing efficiencies, public-private partnerships, workforce planning, community preparedness and protecting essential services.
The event includes three featured presentations, a six-person community panel, audience Q&A and networking. These subjects and the event's preparation-focused purpose come directly from the current event plan. SOVEREIGN-PRIDE-PRESENTS-SAVE-O…
Who Should Attend
This event is designed for city and county leaders, police, fire and emergency services, planning and zoning professionals, educators, business owners, homeowners, community organizations and residents. NEW SMYRNA BEACH
Admission is free. Registration is recommended.
Agenda
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Doors Open & Guest Arrival
Info: Check-in, networking, seating, and event welcome.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:40 AM
Opening Remarks
Info: Co-Hosts: Jason Hanson & Vivian Saavedra
🕑: 10:40 AM - 10:55 AM
Featured Speaker #1 Dr. Jan McGee Topic: Grant Writing & Alternative Funding
Info: Dr. McGee will discuss how organizations can identify and pursue funding beyond traditional operating budgets, including:
- Grant-writing strategy
- Identifying available grant opportunities
- Becoming grant-ready
- Alternative funding sources
- Funding for community programs and public services
- Using grants to help offset budget pressure
- Building stronger long-term funding strategies
🕑: 10:57 AM - 11:12 AM
Featured Speaker #2 Ray DeLuca
Info: Ray will discuss how artificial intelligence and technology can help organizations operate more effectively and create greater financial flexibility, including:
- AI development
- Automation
- Operational efficiency
- Workforce productivity
- Data and decision-making
- Reducing unnecessary operating expenses
- Improving processes
- Workforce planning
- Creating financial flexibility through technology
🕑: 11:14 AM - 11:29 AM
Featured Speaker #3 Chief Michael Tucker — Flagler County Fire Rescue
Info: Chief Tucker will discuss the role of leadership and personal responsibility when organizations and communities face uncertainty, including:
- Pride in community service
- Leadership
- Accountability
- Ownership
- Public-safety preparedness
- Protecting essential services
- Responsible use of resources
- Preparing before difficult decisions become necessary
🕑: 11:31 AM - 11:41 AM
Community Resource Spotlight - Charlie Phipps — Bound Tree Medical Supplies
Info: Charlie will discuss practical opportunities for public-safety agencies and organizations to maximize existing resources and identify potential savings, including:
- Purchasing programs
- Manufacturer and supplier rebates
- Cost-mitigation opportunities
- Procurement efficiencies
- Maximizing existing purchasing dollars
- Identifying potential savings
- Funding and resource opportunities
- Helping organizations obtain needed equipment while managing budget pressure
🕑: 11:41 AM - 12:05 PM
Lunch & Networking
🕑: 12:10 PM - 12:55 PM
Moderated Community Panel
Info: Jason and Vivian will moderate a solutions-focused discussion around the central question:
How can residents, businesses, organizations, schools, public-safety agencies, and community leaders prepare today for potential changes to tomorrow’s financial environment while protecting the services and priorities that make our communities strong?
Discussion areas may include:
- Grants and alternative funding
- Rebates and purchasing programs
- Artificial intelligence
- Operational efficiencies
- Public-safety preparedness
- Leadership and accountability
- School and family impacts
- Law-enforcement training
- Community investment
- Procurement efficiencies
- Workforce productivity
- Public-private partnerships
- Protecting essential community services
- Identifying solutions before cuts become necessary
The panel will remain centered on practical solutions, preparation, and community responsibility rather than political advocacy.
🕑: 12:55 PM - 01:20 PM
Audience Q&A & Panel Discussion
🕑: 01:20 PM - 01:25 PM
Final Panel Takeaways
🕑: 01:25 PM - 01:30 PM
Closing Remarks
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Networking & Meet the Speakers
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
