Board Moves Fiscal Year 2024 Budget and Millage Rates Process Forward
St. Johns County Moves Forward With Fiscal Year 2024 Budget and Millage Rates
The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved flat proposed millage rates for the upcoming fiscal year at the Aug. 1 regular meeting. It also established Sept. 5, 2023, at 5:01 p.m. at the County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, as the date, time, and place for the first of two public hearings to adopt the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.
Residents can participate in the recommended budget process by visiting www.sjcfl.us/omb and accessing the FY 2024 Recommended County Budget Presentation link to a new interactive website.
“The new online portal offers residents a transparent path to engage with the County in the budgeting process,” Office of Management and Budget Director Jesse Dunn said. “They can take a look at the budget by specific service areas, access it on their mobile device, and even create their own customized budget book for sections that interest them the most. They also have the ability to email or print their own customized version of the budget.”
Highlights of the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Budget include:
- With an estimated 16.5% increase in taxable value, at the proposed millage rate, the County would receive an incremental $43.6 million in property taxes for many government services, including fire/rescue, law enforcement, transportation roadway projects, library services, and parks and recreation amenities. Despite a 16.5% increase in taxable value, homestead property owners could experience about a 3% increase in taxes due to the State of Florida’s Save Our Homes provision that shields homestead property from the full assessed value.
- St. Johns County Fire Rescue could receive an additional 45 firefighters and five marine rescue positions.
- The Land Acquisition & Management Program (LAMP) will get an additional $1.5 million in funding, totaling $2 million for the purchase of conservation lands.
- The St. Johns County Public Library System will receive funding to expand its services with an additional 35 hours per week. These additional hours will allow various branch locations to be open on Sundays and Mondays.
- The budget also includes $59 million in State of Florida appropriations for transportation, land conservation, and coastal protection.
The Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices will be mailed to each property taxpayer. The TRIM notices will include the proposed millage rates, the estimated taxes a taxpayer could pay, and the information on the first public hearing. When adopted, the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget goes into effect Oct. 1, 2023.