St. Johns County Budget Workshop Livestream

The St. Johns County Budget Workshop held on May 13, 2026, featured detailed presentations from multiple county departments including Building Services, Code Enforcement, Economic Development, Growth Management, Human Resources, and Risk Management. Key procurement-related discussions included the Building Department's budget projection of approximately $20.7 million with a planned reduction of about $1.65 million, primarily funded by permit fees, and no new FTE requests. The Economic Development department highlighted a budget request including $2.89 million for projected business rebates tied to economic incentive programs, with a focus on attracting commercial and industrial businesses to diversify the tax base. Growth Management reported a roughly 5% budget reduction due to completion of consultant fees, with no new vehicle or FTE requests. Human Resources requested funding of approximately $432,800 to support new technology integrations, training, and a new full-time receptionist position. Risk Management requested $40,000 for a driving simulator to enhance safety training and discussed impacts of legislative changes on sovereign immunity claims. The workshop also covered policy decisions such as discontinuing impact fee waivers for commercial and industrial development, which is expected to increase fee collections by about $2 million. Overall, the meeting provided a comprehensive review of departmental budget requests, staffing, and capital needs, with emphasis on maintaining service levels and supporting economic growth through targeted incentives and infrastructure readiness.