St. Johns County voters have rejected a one-cent surtax that would have raised sales taxes in the county from 6.5 cents to 7.5 cents for every dollar spent on the first $5,000 of taxable personal property purchases. Nontaxable items, such as groceries, would have been exempt.
The referendum was put on the ballot after the County Commission voted 4-1 in March to allow voters to decide it.
The extra penny would have generated an estimated $500 million over the next decade, enough to fund a list of projects identified as priorities by the various county department heads. The list included $240 million for road improvements, some of which were slated for Ponte Vedra, such as a widening of Mickler Road.
Some residents have signaled an unwillingness to support some or all of the projects on the list.
The referendum’s rejection will likely put those projects in limbo, as county commissioners have said they would not raise taxes to pay for them. In the words of Commissioner Christian Whitehurst, “There is no Plan B.”
County officials have identified various causes for a shortfall in funds that might have paid for the proposed projects, most notably a decision by a previous board to reduce impact fees after the 2008 recession to encourage development.
The vote was 63.14% against and 36.86% for.
Both School Board races were close.
In the contest for District 1, incumbent Beverly Slough edged out challenger Racheal M. Hand, 52.21% to 47.79%. The difference between them was slightly more than 1,000 votes.
In District 3, Jennifer Collins prevailed over Lauren Abell, 52.41% to 47.59%.
In the race for Anastasia Mosquito Control District Seat 2, Martha Gleason was the top vote-getter with 41.78% of the votes. For Seat 4, Trish Becker led Chris George, 56.75% to 43.25%.
The race for St. Johns County Airport Authority Group 1 was very nearly a three-way tie, but Michelle Cash-Chapman received the most votes, 35.36% of the total. Group 2 went with Dennis M. Clarke, who received 47.37% of the vote. In Group 3, Jennifer Liotta received the most votes, 29.72% of the total.
By a wide margin, St. Johns County voters elected to retain all of the state’s Supreme Court justices and judges on the District 5 Court of Appeal.
Voter turnout was high in St. Johns County for a midterm election. Out of 223,774 active eligible voters, 144,941 — 64.77% — cast a ballot.
Statewide, Gov. Ron DeSantis beat Charlie Crist, 59.38% to 39.96%. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio beat Val Demings, 57.69% to 41.26%. In the attorney general race, Ashley Moody beat Aramis Ayala, 60.06% to 39.94%. In the race for chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis beat Adam Hattersley, 59.49% to 40.51%. Wilton Simpson beat Naomi Esther Blemur in the race for commissioner of agriculture, 59.31% to 40.69%.
