School board taxes provide keys to strongest future for St. Johns County
A message from Isabelle Renault, president & CEO of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, and Orv Dothage, chair of the Board of Directors of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce:
The Board of Directors of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce last week voted to support school board proposals that will continue the half-cent sales tax for 10 years and add a 1-mill increase to property taxes in the county for four years. An earlier chamber poll indicated that a majority of respondents support the taxes. Voters will decide the outcome with two referendums on the November General Election ballot.
The half-cent sales tax continuation, valued at $37 million annually, supports capital improvements in the school district, including construction of new schools, maintaining and upgrading technology, and implementing critical security systems. The 1-mill increase in property taxes is expected to bring an annual $58 million in revenue and will enhance salaries and benefits for educators and other staff, allow more investment in student safety, and preserve important educational programs, like STEM, art and the successful career academies.
While any new or additional tax increases the potential burden on businesses in St. Johns County, and while raising taxes is not the first choice, we see this as a strategic investment, rather than an expense — an investment in schools, students and the future of St. Johns County.
State regulations limit school districts’ options for raising revenue, whether for capital outlays like construction and security improvements, which are funded by sales tax, or operational expenses like teacher salaries and instructional materials, which are funded by property taxes. A millage increase to fund those critical operational expenses is the “last lever the school district has to pull,” Superintendent Tim Forson said at the chamber's Economic Development Council Breakfast on Sept. 20, noting that property tax is a vital component of school funding in Florida.
During his presentation, Forson spoke passionately about the importance of strong schools as a function of a community's high quality of life. Despite St. Johns County’s consistently top-ranked status, the school district is currently facing substantial job vacancies and difficulty retaining employees, from teachers to bus drivers, Forson said. Average teacher salary in the county is just $53,484, making it among the lowest in Northeast Florida, despite the county's higher-than-average cost of living.
St. Johns County is fortunate to have such a strong public school system, and our schools are an economic engine for the county, attracting businesses looking to establish or expand in Northeast Florida. We know that a community with strong schools helps businesses attract employees, creating more opportunities for commercial growth to meet the demands of a larger population.
Our county is fortunate also to be property-rich, with a residential development boom in the last two decades. From 2005 to 2023, the county's population doubled from 160,266 to 320,110 — but with that growth, the number of students grew more significantly, from 23,273 to 51,826. More than doubling the school-age population has put tremendous stress on our schools, but as more people move to the area, revenue raised through property taxes helps alleviate some of that burden.
We understand the concerns about higher property taxes, especially if you're also a commercial property owner and paying this increased tax on both your home and your business. But the county continues to grow, and the school district expects to add 13,600 students by 2033. Residents and businesses must be prepared to make the investment necessary to maintain the top-ranked schools that drew many of us here and that we've come to expect.
We know that a high-quality education leads to a well-prepared workforce. By investing in education, we will help ensure that students develop the skills they need to succeed in the modern economy, providing a pipeline of capable, qualified future employees. Investing in education also fosters innovation and entrepreneurship. Programs like the career academies in the county's high schools contribute to creating future business leaders and innovators who will drive economic growth and create opportunities in the region, benefiting the broader business community.
To maintain our growth and our excellent schools, St. Johns County must remain competitive with neighboring counties, most of which have lower cost of living but higher average teacher salaries. Duval, Clay and Nassau counties have all passed millage increases that will help fund teacher salaries; if St. Johns County does not pass the millage increase, the teacher pay gap will continue to widen year over year, increasing the risk of losing excellent teachers to these other school districts.
The school district also invests heavily in student safety and wellness, with St. Johns County sheriff's officers at each school, as well as nurses on staff, which is not typically found in neighboring school districts. Tax revenue supports these critical measures, which contribute to a safer, healthier community — and yet another reason businesses will continue to look to grow in our area.
Ultimately, these tax measures will support our economy and the future success of the business community. Thriving schools contribute to the overall vitality of our county and quality of life. The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce encourages you to vote in favor of these proposed taxes in November.
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