St. Johns County exploring one-cent sales tax increase
Commissioners will decide soon whether to explore a one-cent sales tax increase or another new source of revenue.
If they consider the sales tax increase, the county administrator recommends hiring a consultant to explore public opinion. That is estimated to cost up to $35,000.
Revenue was part of Tuesday's special meeting by the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners.
The meeting, which was at the Northeast Florida Regional Airport Conference Center, also covered growth and development concerns. The meeting drew some members of the public but was mostly attended by public officials, including department heads.
Commission Chair Rachael Bennett read over growth and development concerns.
Those items included increased demand for public transportation and plans to resume concurrency workshops this year.
The second part of the meeting focused on funding.
County Administrator Michael Wanchick asked the commission for direction by mid-February on whether to explore more funding. If no new revenue is expected, Wanchick will plan to reallocate funding from nonessential services - such as libraries and recreation - to essential services such as public safety and roads.
Essential means services are core services and some that are mandated.
"It's critical this year because of where we are ... that I get policy direction from the board," Wanchick said.
Commissioners did not make a decision, but plan to hold another workshop at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 that will allow for more feedback. The meeting will be at the county auditorium.
Some commissioners asked for more information related to the measure.
Commissioner Bill McClure said people in his district feel that having a 6 percent sales tax is a competitive advantage against other counties.
But he said he's willing to see what county residents want overall. He also suggested asking people what they consider to be essential and nonessential services.
During his presentation, Wanchick repeated that the county is at a financial crossroads. The county's population is growing, residential growth adds more demand for services and the current balance of revenue to services is unsustainable.
Among other things, fire stations and libraries need to be built, and roads need greater investment so they will not deteriorate and be more costly to repair in the future.
County staff already has been cut over the years, and the county can't borrow its way out of the problem, Wanchick said.
Because of state limits on property tax, maximum growth for the county is 11.5 percent in the next fiscal year, officials say. The county needs 5 percent growth a year to fund basic operations.
"At the maximum growth, the remaining $8.5 million will fall short in funding essential programs alone by over $20 million annually," according to Wanchick's presentation.
Essential programs include pavement management and fire services.
Wanchick has voiced support for a one-cent sales tax increase. But he said if the commission decides to pursue it, he first wants to gauge support of residents.
A one-cent sales tax increase would be decided by residents. Commissioners could only vote to put the measure on a ballot.
Wanchick's recommendation is to hire a consultant to poll the community. He expects that to cost up to $35,000.
He also recommends holding more public meetings and forming a committee to explore the issue.
The cost of putting the item on a ballot on its own is estimated to be about $250,000. Or it could be tacked on to an existing election.
If placed on a ballot in the fall and passed, a sales tax increase could begin January 2016, Wanchick said.
Residents turned down a sales tax increase in 2008 for conservation lands, protection of natural and water resources and transportation improvement.
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IF YOU GO
What: County commission meeting to discuss revenue
Where: County auditorium at 500 San Sebastian View
When: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12
The meeting will be broadcast on Comcast and streamed live on Government TV