St. Johns County Votes on Land Conservation Tax | Jacksonville News

St. Johns County is asking voters to approve a potential property tax increase to fund a land conservation program, aiming to buy up environmentally sensitive land before developers do—ensuring it stays public forever. With budget instability and recent lost opportunities like a top conservation site sold to a builder, the county wants to issue bonds for consistent funding. Environmental advocates support the move, fearing state-level decisions might favor development. The tax hike would be capped at 15 cents per $1,000 of home value, though some commissioners oppose it, citing concerns about pairing it with a tax cut on the same ballot. Polls show local support for conservation, making this November’s vote a pivotal moment for protecting the county’s natural spaces. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e1e51f4b5551238d