St. Johns County commissioners are confronting the fiscal reality of Florida’s newly passed Amendment 3, a property‑tax reform that will sharply cut local revenue. The county’s own projections show a loss of $68.3 million in FY 2028, $136.1 million in FY 2029, and $191.6 million by FY 2032.
Planning for a reduced tax base
Chair Clay Murphy acknowledged that the county has been preparing for this outcome since the spring. “It’s just something that we’re going to have to deal with,” he said, noting the projected decline of roughly 15% of ad valorem revenue in the first year, 30% in the second, and about 45% by the fifth year.
County Administrator Joy Andrews led a comprehensive review of services, staffing, contracts and capital projects beginning in May, months before the ballot measure passed. The review identified $31.2 million in emergency‑response reserves and an additional $30 million in General Fund reserves earmarked for financial resiliency.
Hiring freeze and project delays
In response to the anticipated shortfall, the county instituted an immediate hiring freeze that Murphy says will remain permanent until the budget picture stabilizes. “No more hiring… we can’t afford to hire anybody new right now until we get a handle on what it’s going to look like,” he explained.
Approximately $100 million in capital‑improvement projects have been placed on hold, including a planned new fire station in the Beachwalk area. The county is also re‑examining a $120 million bond approved by the previous board for parks, fire stations and libraries, emphasizing that new facilities must be affordable to maintain.
Potential service reductions
Non‑mandated services such as parks and recreation, libraries and Health and Human Services are under review for possible cuts. Murphy offered a hypothetical illustration: eliminating parks, recreation, libraries and HHS could save about $50 million, roughly the amount needed to offset a $65 million budget gap.
While no formal decisions have been made, the commission plans a public discussion in December to gather community input. Murphy stressed that the goal is genuine budget reductions rather than replacing lost revenue with new fees.
Community impact and next steps
“The people have spoken, and I certainly respect that because people are concerned about their taxes,” Murphy said. “But now comes the job of implementing the cuts that they’ve mandated for us, and it’s going to be painful.”
The county will continue to monitor its financial position, adjust staffing levels as needed, and keep residents informed as the budget process moves forward.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
