District Board votes to reduce tax rate for seventh consecutive year

PALATKA, Fla., July 9, 2019 —

The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday approved a tentative budget that reduces the millage rate for taxpayers for a seventh consecutive year while continuing to provide significant funds for programs and projects to ensure sustainable water resources, increase water conservation, enhance water supply, and improve water quality in priority water bodies.

“The district continues to focus our efforts on cooperative projects that are helping to restore and protect our water resources,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “This proposed budget will fund our major programs for the St. Johns River, the Indian River Lagoon, and Outstanding Florida Springs, and continue cost-share partnerships with local governments and agriculture.”

The tentative 0.2414 millage rate would result in nearly $88.7 million in revenue toward a total $140.1 million budget for fiscal year 2019‒2020, which begins Oct. 1, 2019. The budget is also funded through state, federal and other district sources (including timber sales, cattle leases, interest earnings and permit fees).

The tentative millage rate, equal to the rolled back rate, adopted by the board is approximately 5.8 percent less than the current year’s tax rate.

Under a 0.2414 millage rate — 24.14 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value — the owner of a $200,000 house with a $50,000 homestead exemption would pay $36.21 in the coming year in property taxes to the district.

Public hearings will be held at 5:05 p.m. Sept. 10 and 24. Final budget adoption will occur at the Sept. 24 Governing Board meeting.