After half-cent sales tax approved, what's next for St. Johns County Schools?

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- — Now that St. Johns County's half-cent sales tax increase has been approved by voters, work begins to start building new schools.

Action News Jax sat down with St. Johns County Schools superintendent Dr. Joseph Joyner, who said the school board is eyeing three specific areas for the first new school.

"The Nocatee area, obviously. The Northwest St. Johns County, around Greenbriar, around that area is growing fast, and then World Golf Village," said Joyner.

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The district estimates about $13 million will be generated a year from the half-cent sales tax increase.

"One of the reasons they did a special election was so that we could start collecting money in January," said Joyner.

According to Joyner, the money will likely go to the state first, then straight back to the county. He said 100 percent of it will go toward building new schools.

"The board will choose an oversight committee. Their task is to make sure that the dollars are spent where you said you were going to spend them," said Joyner.

The sales tax increase will last for the next 10 years. After that, the measure will go back to the ballots to be voted on by taxpayers.

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