St. Johns County Property Tax Amendment 3 Town Hall Livestream

St. Johns County town hall on proposed Florida Property Tax Amendment 3, held September 30, 2026. County Administrator Joy Andrews and budget staff described the amendment’s potential effects without advocating for or against it. They estimated property-tax revenue reductions of about $68 million in the first year and $136 million in the second year for the county’s general fund, fire district, and transportation trust fund. The presentation also explained that the county’s adopted budget is about $1.9 billion, including approximately $426 million in property taxes, and that many other revenues are restricted to specific services. If approved statewide by at least 60% of voters, the measure would increase the homestead exemption and reduce the non-homestead assessment cap; staff noted that school taxes and existing exemptions would not change.

Staff said the county is reviewing services, planning for different budget scenarios, holding some hiring and capital-project decisions, and closely scrutinizing new contracts and projects that would create recurring costs. The transcript’s figure for capital projects placed on hold is garbled, so no amount can be confirmed. Officials discussed fees, assessments, partnerships, and other revenue sources as possible ways to sustain selected services. In response to a question about a proposed $100 million conservation-land bond, staff said reduced taxable values could limit the amount the county could borrow and that associated operating costs would also be considered. Staff also noted the recently adopted maximum impact-fee schedule for developers. No contract awards or procurement votes were identified.