Florida Policy & Governance: Lt. Gov. Jay Collins’ Key Takeaways for St. Johns County

The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce recently hosted Lt. Gov. Jay Collins for a focused discussion on housing, taxation, agriculture, workforce and healthcare reform. These are issues central to our region’s long-term competitiveness. A group of business, agriculture, education and healthcare leaders joined the lieutenant governor to ask questions and learn more about his thoughts and concerns.

On housing, the lieutenant governor criticized the way impact fees have become an “economic junk drawer,” driving up home prices by an estimated 10% to 40% in some areas. He called for a functional, statewide review of housing inventory, population and permitting practices, paired with clearer guardrails on impact fees. He also stressed that younger residents increasingly seek amenity-rich housing rather than traditional single-family homes, urging better alignment between what we build and what the next generation actually wants.

On tax policy, local leaders highlighted that 86% of St. Johns County’s ad valorem revenue comes from single-family homes. The lieutenant governor acknowledged flaws in the proposed property tax changes, particularly the absence of a trust fund to protect fiscally constrained counties and essential services such as law enforcement, fire, education and roads. He advocated for a gradual rollout and a stronger focus on return on investment and government accountability.

Agriculture and workforce were also prominent themes. Stakeholders praised recent steps to enable workforce housing on agricultural land and to accelerate disaster relief for farmers. The lieutenant governor warned that many young farmers are questioning their future in the industry and argued that a state that cannot feed itself is never truly free.

On education and workforce, he outlined a vision that includes classical education, executive function and life skills, and expanded apprenticeships in 11th and 12th grade. He also called for faster, less bureaucratic response from the community college and CTE systems. This is especially critical as St. Johns anticipates the need for 3,000 to 3,500 additional healthcare professionals in the next five years.

The meeting closed with a call for radical transparency and stronger state-local collaboration. Speakers urged electoral choices that sustain Florida’s economic opportunity and quality of life.