ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — St. Johns County commissioners voted 4 to 1 to move forward with a proposal for a 1% sales tax to fix 500 million dollars worth of infrastructure projected needed throughout the country.
The plan will need to be approved before it ends up on the November ballot.
Action News Jax breaks down how that money would be spent if it passes.
The St. Johns County commissioners are looking at adding a 1% sales tax to help pay for a backlog of infrastructure projects in its growing county.
But Nicole Crosby said she’s not completely on board with this new proposal.
“Because if it’s just roads to help pave the way for new developments that’s not something that we want,” Nicole Crosby said.
The county says $500 million in infrastructure projects are needed.
Almost half would pay for roads and infrastructure those are things like roadways, drainage, and sidewalk improvements.
About a quarter of that money would pay for public safety like the sheriff’s command center and a fire station in the new silver leaf neighborhood.
Parks and recreation and libraries would make up another quarter of that $500 million.
William Fisher said he wouldn’t mind paying a sales tax if it’ll help road projects and public safety. Fisher is from Hastings and he says he could use another fire station.
“Where I live the closest station is fire station number 8 and it’s an average of 16 to 20 minutes response time and if they have a structure fire then I don’t know where the second unit would come from,” Fisher said.
After listening to the plan Johnny Counts told me he would rather see the sales tax focus on fewer projects.
“More taxes at this point right now, I can see their point they want it to be broad and let the people decide but I think it needs to be a lot more finite, “Counts said.
If the proposal ends up on the November ballot and passes the sales tax would be in place for the next 10 years and generate around $50 million each year.
The next county meeting to discuss the sales tax is scheduled next month on March 1st.
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