Dear members,
The Florida legislature finished its regular 2022 Session in Tallahassee, approving a $112-billion budget for the new fiscal year that begins July 1, 2022. On June 2, Gov. DeSantis issued line-item vetoes totaling $3.13 billion. The complete list of programs cut from the budget can be found at: bit.ly/3Om9O4s. An important win was the free-standing, Chamber-supported multi-year reauthorization and 2022/2023 $50-million appropriation for Visit Florida, the state’s tourism development agency. Gov. DeSantis signed Visit Florida’s reauthorization into law earlier this month. Other issues the Chamber, through its Public Policy Committee, engaged with this year include workforce housing funds (received $363 million; the most in 16 years!) and the ultimate elimination of the sales tax on commercial leases (still on track to decrease from 5.50% to 2% in the fall of 2022 as a result of last year’s legislation).
The St. Johns County Commission held a three-day “Administrator’s Budget Review” last month to analyze revenues/expenditures in preparation for the 2023 budget. Of special note was the economic development discussion and a request for additional funding for the Chamber’s Economic Development Council which works closely with the SJC Economic Development team to attract new businesses and enable existing businesses to grow in the county.
The well-attended Chamber’s June Economic Development Breakfast focused upon St. Johns County at the Crossroads/The Management of Growth, and featured Board of County Commissioners Chair Henry Dean discussing the proposed 1% sales tax increase devoted to infrastructure, affordable workforce housing, worker training and the overall management of growth in St. Johns County.
The Chamber’s vice chair, Beth Sweeny, has won a full term as a City of St. Augustine Beach commissioner as no candidate filed to run against her by the June 17 deadline. Also re-elected for another term was state Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, who faced no opposition.
I look forward to seeing you at the political candidates meet-and-greet event, Politics in St. Johns, on July 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. This event is organized by the Chamber to give residents an opportunity to meet candidates running for office before casting their vote.
Isabelle Renault
President and CEO, St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce
