Q: What can you tell us about the two school board referenda?
A: We are very privileged to have two referenda on the ballot this November. The first is an extension of the half-cent sales tax, first passed nine years ago, which we have used to build two complete schools (Picolata Crossing Elementary and Freedom Crossing Academy) as well as parts of others (such as Pine Island Academy and Palm Valley Academy) and renovate and expand others. This has absolutely been a lifesaver for us and I don’t know what we would have done for funding without this, since funding from Tallahassee has all but dried up. The need is great and it continues … currently we have 13,000 students in portables, which is the equivalent of 16 elementary schools.
Q: What can you tell us about the second referendum?
A: The second referendum addresses needs on the operating side of our budget. We are asking to raise property taxes by 1 mill, which would generate $58 million per year for each year of the four year term. Approximately 85 percent would be used for increased compensation for faculty and staff. Around our surrounding counties, our teachers’ salaries are the lowest and we need to do something to recruit and retain excellent educators.
Q: Why is this referendum necessary?
A: For the past nine years, the Florida Legislature has rolled back the tax rate to generate the same amount of tax revenue dollars each year. That leaves us unable to give our teachers the compensation they deserve. Without it, we will have to consider cutting back on services, such as instructional literacy coaches or school nurses. None of these items are paid for with money provided by the state.
Q: How much money would property owners expect to pay?
A: We talked to St. Johns County Property Appraiser Eddie Creamer and he said that the average taxable value of a house in St. Johns County is $360,000. Since 1 mill is $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value, this would equate to an additional $360 per year for that average home.
I sometimes hear from people who say they have no kids in school, so why should they pay? And I say that good schools help keep our property values high, plus we need an educated workforce so that everybody benefits.
Q: What else is important to note about these referenda?
A: First, even with the half-cent sales tax, St. Johns County has the lowest sales tax in northeast Florida.
Secondly, the revenues raised from both of these referenda will stay local in St. Johns County. For other tax levies, all the money goes to Tallahassee and then each county gets back $8,700 per student. St. Johns County is actually a donor county to other Florida counties.
Our budget is available on our website (www.stjohns.k12.fl.us). The St. Johns County School District is the largest employer by far in the county and so salaries, along with debt service on our schools, make up the majority of our budget.
The General Election ballot in November is lengthy — two pages — and these two referenda are the last two things on the ballot. I urge people to vote yes on them.
Q: How can our readers contact you?
A: They can email me at beverly.slough@stjohns.k12.fl.us or call me at (904) 547-7510.
