Q: What can you tell us about the two school board referenda?
A: First, the St. Johns County School Board has voted to put a renewal of the half-cent sales tax to the voters on the ballot in November. The current half-cent sales tax expires next year, and it can only be put as a referendum on the ballot during a general election. We continue to have the lowest sales tax in the northeast Florida area.
Q: What has the half-cent sales tax paid for so far over the past nine years?
A: This revenue has been critical for us to provide the capital to build new schools. Without it, we would not have been able to achieve financing to build new schools, expand others, and conduct much needed safety improvements… as well as upgrade technology and perform wifi replacements and other essential maintenance. For instance, the half-cent sales tax paid for the wifi upgrade required for the Centegix safety badges at our schools and in District 4, provided funds for roof replacement at Ocean Palms Elementary, PVPV Rawlings, and Landrum Middle School.
Q: Why would you say that the half-cent sales tax needs to be continued?
A: Our district continues to grow and we continue to need these revenues to build more schools, to continue to maintain our current schools and stay up to date with our safety systems. We have a citizens advisory committee that will continue to monitor and advise the school board should this half-cent sales tax be extended. All money collected in this manner stays in St. Johns County.
Q: What can you tell us about the second referendum?
A: Also on the ballot will be a referendum much like many other districts across the state already have. We will ask voters for a 1 mill property tax increase. It’s important to note that capital funds cannot be used for operational expenses, so this additional mill will be used to recruit and retain high quality teachers and staff, as well as school safety (Youth Resource Officers) and student welfare (school nurses). A small portion will go to enhance some of our educational programs, such as art, music, science, technology, and athletics.
Q: Do you know how much will actually go towards salaries?
A: Between 85 percent and 90 percent (subject to negotiations that are going on now) of the funds would go to salary supplement for our teachers and support staff, which includes bus drivers, paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers and custodial staff.
As many readers may recall, 97 percent of all funds that our district receives (both capital and operational) are spent in our schools. This is the highest in the state. The St. Johns County School District is in the people business, with close to 6,500 employers — the largest employer by far in our county.
Q: Why would you say this additional mill is needed?
A: After the Florida Legislature has rolled back the millage rate for the past nine years, we’ve lost 1.9 mills. Now we’re at the point that we can’t make any more cuts to our budget. As a county that continues to grow, in order to move forward we need to be able to compete with the surrounding counties, most of whom already have a voter-approved additional mill, for excellent employees.
If anyone has any questions about our budget, it can be found on our website (www.stjohns.k12.fl.us). We have received the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting each year since 2016.
Q: How can our readers contact you?
A: They can email me at kelly.barrera@stjohns.k12.fl.us or call me at (904) 547-7510.
