St. Johns County, Fla. – September 16, 2026 -- St. Johns County has built a fiscal contingency plan around estimates showing property-tax revenue could fall by $68.3 million in Fiscal Year 2028, $136.1 million in FY 2029, and $191.6 million in FY 2032 if voters approve Property Tax Amendment 3 on Nov. 3, 2026. The projections, sourced from the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research, have driven a countywide budget review underway since May.
County identifies $108.6 million in spending for post-election reassessment
Staff flagged approximately $100 million in capital improvement projects for hold status, alongside $4 million tied to vacant positions, $2 million in unfunded FY 2027 roles, and $2.6 million in paused-but-recommended positions. County Administrator Joy Andrews said the approach lets officials avoid committing resources that may not be available later while protecting long-term financial stability.
Staff audited 380 services and 1,137 fees across 18 departments
The review examined which County services could remain property-tax funded under the amendment and which would require alternative revenue. A financial resiliency strategy now spans 10 areas, including personnel, contracts, capital projects, reserves, and revenue diversification, along with a municipal service benefit unit study as a potential alternative funding mechanism.
FY 2027 budget adds $30 million reserve specifically for Amendment 3 risk
The Recommended Budget carries $31.2 million in emergency response reserves for hurricanes and disasters, plus an additional $30 million in General Fund reserves designated for financial resiliency tied to the amendment. The extra reserve is intended to cushion potential service reductions if the measure passes.
Capital Improvement Project Oversight Committee classifies every project as continue, pause or defer
In June, the Committee applied criteria covering life-safety and legal requirements, grant funding reliance, property-tax dependency, project completion stage, community need, and the cost of pausing versus restarting. Committee Chair Daniel Whitcraft said the holds are not cancellations but allow time to evaluate funding and recurring operating costs before recommending a path forward after the election.
Public hearings scheduled for Sept. 15 and Sept. 29 in St. Augustine
The Board of County Commissioners will hold its final FY 2027 budget adoption hearing on Sept. 15 at 5:01 p.m. at the County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine. A Town Hall on Amendment 3's potential budget effects follows on Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the same location. The County maintains it is not advocating for or against the amendment but is providing factual data to residents ahead of the vote.