ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — The St. Johns County School Board is asking the county commission for half of the revenue from a one-cent sales tax -- that's if local voters approve the tax hike.
With its top rated school system, St. Johns County continues to grow in population but that's causing a real challenge for the school board that has to figure out how to fund more schools.
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"I have friends who moved from up north and came here and when they asked me what school system to select I automatically said St. Johns County," said local mom Reta McConnell.
The student population in the county has skyrocketed in recent years. This past year alone the county saw an increase of more than 1,500 students.
So the school board authorized its chair, Beverly Slough, to send a letter to the county commission requesting a revenue split of the one cent sales tax proposal.
Action News spoke about the issue with District 3 commissioner Bill McClure, who also serves as the liaison between the county and the school board.
"A lot of people move here because of the school system so when you talk about quality of life you talk about schools," said McClure.
The chair of the school board said they are behind on the building of two schools and right now there's no money to do it.
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McClure said the revenue split of one penny would equate to more than $150 million over 10 years. But if the county rejects the request, the school board could ask for its own sales tax referendum.
"What that means for the taxpayer is if they're going to ask for a sales tax increase of half a penny or a penny specifically for the school board then that money will go specifically to the schools," said McClure.
The county commission will be meeting again for a second reading and probably a vote on the sales tax proposal on June 16.