ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Voters in St. Johns County saw two referendums on the ballot this election. Each of those initiatives passed with strong support.
The referendums are expected to help with school funding in the fast-growing community.
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St. Johns County is considered one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. Since 2005, the student body in St. Johns County schools has more than doubled from 23,000. The growth has meant the school district needs to expand to keep up with demand.
And Superintendent Tim Forson said these referendums are a good place to start.
“The only message is that of gratitude,” Forson said.
He said he was jumping around his living room when he saw that a half-cent sales tax and millage increase would each be passed and bring in more money for the school district.
“While many districts may only be hiring for those that retire or leave the system, we are also hiring 100+ teachers every year for the growth,” Forson said. “So we have to appeal to the new employees. We have to appeal to our veterans and we have to provide the salaries and resources that they need to live in St. Johns County.”
The first referendum is the continuation of a half-cent sales tax which means nothing will change from the sales tax perspective in St. Johns County.
It’s a change that has already been active for about 10 years and brings in nearly $37 million and passed with 60% approval.
The second is new. It’s an increase of one mill in property tax.
That means property taxes will increase by $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value on a property.
So a house valued at $300,000 will see taxes increase by $300.
The change passed with 68%.
“I’m incredibly humbled to get those numbers and understand that the voters of St. John’s County truly support the schools in St. John’s County,” Forson said.