Julington Creek Plantation homeowners are set to avoid an increase on their maintenance and operations assessment next year. The community development district board plans to draw on surplus funds to cover what would have been a 7.9% hike, sparing each household $117.28.
The board will hold a public hearing and formally adopt the budget Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m. at the Julington Creek Plantation Club, 350 Plantation Club Parkway, St. Johns. Residents can speak for up to three minutes.
District Manager Daniel Rom told the board at its May 19 meeting that the proposed FY2027 budget reflected a 7.9% assessment increase over the current year. "The Fiscal Year 2027 Budget shows an assessment increase of 7.9%, which equates to $117.28 per home, for the entire year, compared to the Fiscal Year 2026 assessments," Rom said at that meeting, according to board minutes.
Rather than pass that cost to homeowners, the board reached consensus on May 19 to hold assessments flat across all product types and use surplus funds to bridge the gap. The rationale: the district's Series 2012 debt is expected to be paid off before FY2028, freeing those debt-service dollars to replenish the surplus.
The proposed budget totals approximately $8.24 million in expenditures across the General Fund, Recreation Fund, Capital Reserve Fund and Debt Service Funds, according to the June 11 budget resolution. If adopted Aug. 25, new assessment rates would take effect for tax bills sent in November.
Vendor amenity policy and rec center plans
The Aug. 25 agenda also includes a public hearing on a new Vendor Amenity Usage Policy. Under the proposed rules, employees of district vendors who work at least 30 hours per week for the district could purchase 30-day facility access passes priced between $0 and $30. Those employees would be barred from using amenities on weekends in June, July and August and on major holidays.
The board will also discuss Recreation Center renovation priorities established at its April 28 meeting: eliminating the existing playground and enlarging the splash pad area for young children, an exterior facelift and extending the food and beverage bar on the pool deck. Board Chair Luke Jensen designated Field Operations Manager Jeff Branch as the point of contact for the design firm, Basham and Lucas Design Group.
Other agenda items include shade structure proposals, Treehouse Trails Pond spillway renovations and a State Road 13 FDOT project update.
The five-member board consists of Jensen, Michael Morton, Patricia K. Jacob, Aaron Clausen and Leigh Starnes.
The district's next scheduled meetings are a virtual workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and a regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22, both at 6 p.m.
