ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns County School District will hold a meeting Thursday to discuss a pair of referendums that will appear on the November ballot.
Both referendums would benefit schools but mean higher tax bills.
St. Johns County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. In 2005, the district had 23,000 students. It’s now more than twice that.
The school district said it needs more money to keep up and hopes to address that with two referendums.
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One would renew a half-cent sales tax that was first approved by voters in 2015.
This would not change anything from what residents currently paying — just an extension of what is currently in action.
But, if it’s extended, the sales tax simply wouldn’t go down.
The district said it raises $37 million every year, and up to 38% of that comes from people who don’t live in the county.
The other proposal would increase property taxes by one mill to help pay teacher salaries.
A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a person’s assessed property value.
If a home’s assessed value is $360,000, then, in a year, that one mill represents $360 of increase in property taxes.
Thursday’s meeting will be the second in a series of meetings. It will be held at Gamble Rogers Middle School.
- The next meeting will be on Oct. 15 at the school board auditorium. It will also be broadcast online.
- The final meeting is on Oct. 17 at Nease High School.
- All meetings start at 6 p.m.
St. Johns County residents have until Oct. 7 to register to vote.
The Supervisor of Elections Office will be open Saturday for special hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help register voters.
Early voting in St. Johns County begins Oct. 21.