Proposed ‘Sand Tax’ in St. Johns Gaining Support Among Property Owners

When Hurricane Mathew washed out his seawall, the storm took a big chunk of Tom Turnage’s oceanfront home.

“I got outflanked by Matthew,” said Turnage.

Two years later, his home has been rebuilt and Turnage is leading the charge for a beach replenishment project.

“I think it is a good idea,” he said.

The plan calls for an increase of 8.5 mils in property taxes for 386 ocean front property owners.

“It is a good Idea, an idea that is certainly not perfect,” said Turnage.

The challenge is winning community approval to use the $10.5 million being made available from the state of Florida.

“We would lose those funds if we don’t do this project,” said Turnage, “those are emergency funds.”

Turnage who is President of the South Ponte Vedra – Vilano Beach Preservation Association said they have been pushing for a project for 12 years.

“Almost every beach in Florida survives because periodically it has beach re-nourishment project,” he said.

He acknowledged, after Matthew and then Irma, there is a seven-mile stretch of the beaches that is in dire need of sand.

“We’ve lost a lot of sand,” he said.

Rob and Jill Frankskousky are among the property owners opposed to the tax. They believe the group of property owners being asked to pay the tax needs to be expanded.

“There’s a right way to do it,” said Jill Franskousky,”Let’s take this opportunity and do it the right way.’

Those in favor say it has been more than a decade of asking for some kind of project to replace the sand, they are too close for this project to fail.

“The homeowners are being asked to support 24 percent of the cost,” said Turnage,” I think that is an incredible offer and I think we would be foolish not to accept that offer.”

The St. Johns County Commission has a survey in the field. It is asking the 386 property owners to express their opinion, whether they support the proposed tax or not.

As of April 20, 2018, sixty percent were in favor while thirty-six percent were not. The deadline to respond is May 21.

The proposed “Sand Tax’ would generate $6.4 million; remaining monies would come from an increase in the bed tax to match the funds being made available by the state.

Source: FirstCoast News