Orange Park's Farmers' & Arts Market will keep its twice-monthly schedule. Town Manager Gary Goble confirmed the market is fully funded in the adopted fiscal 2026-27 budget.

The confirmation, first reported by News4Jax, came after weeks of vendor anxiety. At the Sept. 15 Town Council meeting, Karmen Matthews, owner of Glass Cactus Jax, asked whether the market was being cut from two Sundays a month to one. A council member replied that it was under discussion.

That exchange alarmed vendors.

Vendors worry about losing their audience

The market at Town Hall Park draws approximately 57 vendors per event and an estimated 1,000 attendees, according to town budget committee records. Nearly 70 vendors participate overall, News4Jax reported.

"I feel like if we cut it in half, we're going to really lose our audience," Matthews told News4Jax. "It would be a severe detriment to this market."

Budget gap and Amendment 3 drive concerns

The discussion grew out of a budget gap initially projected at more than $600,000. Town officials narrowed the gap through spending cuts, position adjustments and other reallocations. The adopted budget still draws about $360,649 from reserves to balance the general fund. Goble described that figure as planned reserve use rather than an operating deficit.

The council adopted a 5.90 millage rate with a 5-0 vote, according to Clay Today.

Behind the budget pressure sits Florida's Amendment 3, a proposed constitutional change on the Nov. 3 ballot. If at least 60% of voters approve it, the measure would raise homestead exemptions on nonschool property taxes, according to ClickOrlando. Orange Park Finance Director John Villanueva projected at a June 23 council meeting that the amendment could cut the town's ad valorem revenue by $611,000 in its first year and $1.1 million in the second.

Emily Dockery, the town's events and recreation coordinator, said leaders examined potential cuts in preparation for Amendment 3's possible effects. Reducing the market to once a month was one option discussed.

Town says no program cuts decided

Goble said no such decision has been made. He told News4Jax in an email that the town has not discussed eliminating or reducing specific programs in connection with Amendment 3 because the outcome and financial impact are not yet known.

The market generates roughly $25,000 in annual revenue against $19,800 in direct expenses, according to Sept. 3 council meeting minutes. Council members noted it also requires substantial staff time beyond those line items. The town does not have a formal economic-impact study, Goble said.

Matthews told News4Jax that vendors are willing to pitch in if financial pressure mounts, saying they would organize sales, community gatherings or fundraisers to help preserve the market.

Goble told News4Jax the town will evaluate Amendment 3's effect on revenues after the election results and implementation details are known.