Early voting to begin Saturday in St. Johns County

Half-cent sales tax for schools referendum on Nov. 3 ballot

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla – A week of early voting begins Saturday on a referendum for a half-cent sales tax hike to fund St. Johns County schools.

School district leaders say the tax increase is needed to build new schools to ease current and prevent future overcrowding and improve technology and security for students. 

The district is expected to grow by 15,813 students over the next 10 years. District leaders said that means 20 schools will be needed. They said 2,689 homes were permitted in the county in 2014.

Approval of the tax would bring St. Johns County's rate to 6.5 percent. Duval and most other northeast Florida counties are already at 7 percent. The sales tax increase would generate about $150 million over 10 years, officials said.

On Friday, opponents of the tax hike held a rally urging people to vote against the tax. They said the $200,000 cost of holding a special election just for this one issue is reason enough to vote no.

"This is not an emergency. This is all something that the school district could have planned for," said Kelly Lorbeer, with the St. Augustine tea party. 

Proponents of the tax increase have some big money behind them, thanks in part to a political action committee that has raised $150,000.

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"The PAC that is advertising, campaigning in favor of this tax increase is made up of developers and architects and a group of people who all will benefit from this tax," Lorbeer said.

Mark and Alecia Bailey, who are overseeing the PAC, said they are conservative Republicans who are parents to six children. The said they want to keep St. Johns schools safe and rated No. 1 in the state.

"I think one of the misconceptions is that we have developers and people with interest in the school distinct and construction that are lined up in my office with checks in their hand, and that's not the case," Mark Bailey said. "We wanted to make sure that we could help the district advocate and ask people to support them in their efforts."

Despite their fundraising success, they don't believe passage of the referendum is a sure thing.

"I'm scared," Alecia Bailey said. "We will work tirelessly until the absolutely last second because we believe in this."

Early voting is open Saturday through Oct. 31. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at all six early locations in the county.

  • Supervisor of Elections Office, 4455 Avenue A, Suite 101, St. Augustine
  • Southeast Branch Library, 6670 US 1 South, St. Augustine 
  • St. Augustine Beach City Hall, 2200 A1A South, St. Augustine
  • Julington Creek Annex, 725 Flora Branch Blvd., St. Johns 
  • Ponte Vedra Branch Library, 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach
  • Hastings Town Hall, 6195 South Main Street, Hastings 


For those who don't vote early, all precincts in the county will be open Tuesday, Nov. 3.  Superior of Elections Vicky Oakes said she expects a pretty good turnout for a special election, maybe 25 to 30 percent.

You must take a current, valid photo and signature ID with you when you vote. 

For more elections information visit votesjc.com, or call 904-823-2238.


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