St. Johns County has frozen more than $100 million in capital projects, including a new fire station planned for the Beachwalk community along CR 210 West.
Wade Schroeder, director of the county's Office of Management and Budget (OMB), told commissioners Wednesday, Sept. 2, that the freeze will hold until the outcome of Amendment 3, a property-tax ballot measure on the Nov. 3 ballot, is known.
"We have over $100 million in CIPs … currently in some level of pause until we know the outcome of what the future revenue sources are," Schroeder said, according to St. Johns Citizen.
The Beachwalk fire station, designated Fire Station 23, was scheduled to open in mid-2028 at Accolade Ave. and CR 210 West. The county's fire department had requested 23 firefighter hires beginning in January 2027 to allow training time, completing a 30-person roster for the station. Those positions are now on hold too.
"If the station is paused, then the positions are paused as well," Schroeder said.
What Amendment 3 would cost the county
Amendment 3 (CS/HJR 1-F), placed on the ballot by the Florida Legislature during a special session called by Gov. Ron DeSantis, would expand the homestead exemption on non-school property taxes from as much as $50,000 to $150,000 beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The exemption would then rise to $250,000 beginning Jan. 1, 2028. The measure would also cut the annual assessment cap on non-homesteaded property from 10% to 5%.
It requires 60% statewide voter approval to take effect, according to the St. Johns County Property Appraiser.
An analysis by the Florida Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR) estimates St. Johns County would lose $68.3 million in property-tax revenue during the first year if the amendment passes. The second-year loss would reach $136 million, roughly 32% of the $426 million in property taxes in the county's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, Schroeder said. By the fifth year, the annual loss could approach $200 million.
Schroeder warned that a 32% cut would touch every county service area, including public safety.
Budget math leaves little margin
When county leaders first assessed Amendment 3's fiscal impact in July, Commissioner Christian Whitehurst laid out the math: after a $113 million loss from a roughly $400 million budget, the sheriff's office and fire department alone consume close to $250 million. That would leave about $37 million for parks and road maintenance, as St. Johns Community reported.
County Administrator Joy Andrews described the amendment's potential effect at that same July meeting as either "revolutionary" or "catastrophic," depending on one's perspective.
Supporters of Amendment 3 argue it would provide significant relief to homeowners facing rising insurance, housing and other living costs. They say limiting property-tax collections would force local governments to control spending.
What the county is doing now
County staff have identified about $4 million in savings from vacant positions and have held back additional jobs, primarily in the library system. Officials are also exploring alternative revenue sources, including additional gas taxes or separate assessments. No service cuts or new revenue measures have been formally proposed.
Commissioners authorized staff to begin a public campaign explaining the amendment's potential effects, possibly including town halls.
How residents can weigh in
The Board of County Commissioners will vote on tentative millage rates and a tentative fiscal year 2027 budget at a special meeting Thursday, Sept. 3, at 5:01 p.m. A second and final budget hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 5:01 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine.
