St. Johns County Commissioners received the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 budget and approved the tentative 2015 millage rate on July 29. There is no millage/property tax rate increase proposed for FY 2015. Although total county property values have increased by approximately 6.2%, not all individual property taxes will increase by 6.2%. Properties with a homestead exemption will experience an approximate 1.5% increase in their county property taxes while non-homesteaded properties will experience approximately a 6% increase. Property taxes comprise approximately 21% of the total county budget revenue. Other revenues include utility fees, solid waste disposal fees, service charges, grants, gas taxes, and sales tax, most of which are statutorily restricted or obligated to specific purposes. The Board of County Commissioners will hold Public Budget Hearings to adopt the FY 2015 budget and millage rate at 5:01 p.m. on September 3 and 17, 2014. Both hearings will be held at the County Administration Building, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, Florida 32084.

In partnership with St. Johns County, a private company is scheduled to build a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station this year that is projected to save the county millions of dollars in annual fuel costs. A regional leader in pioneering the use of CNG, St. Johns County will convert approximately 130 of its fleet vehicles to use the lower-cost fuel. The County will leverage a $730,000 North Florida Transportation Organization grant to help fund the fleet conversion. In addition, the $2 million facility will be open to the public, with Ponte Vedra-based Advanced Disposal and Republic Services both indicating future fleet conversions to utilize the station. Depending on fluctuating fuel costs, the CNG could provide a savings of approximately $1.50 per gallon for the County and its corporate and economic development partners. In addition, CNG is a considered to be an environmentally cleaner alternative to traditional fuel and is produced domestically. The County is expected to use the equivalent of at least 200,000 gallons per year.

A recent study published by the New York Times ranked the quality of life for every county in the United States. Out of 3,135 U.S. counties, St. Johns ranked in the top 4% nationally and was the number one ranked county in the State of Florida. Quality of life indicators included education, median household income, unemployment rate, disability rate, life expectancy, and obesity. As St. Johns County continues to grow, so does the desire to offer residents the best quality of life. Abundant natural resources, diverse arts and culture opportunities, and a vibrant local economy are just a few of the things working together to keep the community strong and flourishing.

Every year we, as residents of St. Johns County, are reminded of the vulnerability of our coastal community to hurricanes. As the County continues to grow and develop, this fact becomes increasingly important. You and your family need to know what to do and where to go should the threat of hurricane (or any disaster) become real. A lack of education and planning are the common links of all major disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions should be taken, you can greatly reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. If you live in a coastal or low-lying region, an area that floods frequently, or a manufactured home, you will be asked to evacuate.

A disaster can strike quickly and without warning. You can be forced to evacuate your neighborhood or be confined to your home. What will you do when disaster strikes? Where will your family be when disaster strikes? Are you prepared? Begin by gathering some basic, yet vital information. Know if you live in an evacuation area or not. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind. If you are asked to evacuate, where will you go? Know the evacuation routes you will take. Do you have a family member with special needs? Do you have pets? Does your plan include them? Write a family plan based on this information. Families can cope with a disaster by preparing in advance. Knowing what to do in the event of disaster is your best protection. Visit www.sjcemergencymanagement.org for additional information.

St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau recently presented St. Johns County with an award recognizing the organization for extraordinary collaboration between local governments, businesses, and the tourism industry. The Tribute to Teamwork award was presented in recognition of collaborative efforts on a variety of projects and initiatives including the recent Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road Stopover Tour. The bureau noted cooperation between the County, several municipalities, law enforcement agencies, first responders, and the local business community as playing a key role in ensuring the event was safe, successful, and well-organized. The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, Administration, Fire Rescue Department, and Amphitheatre staff were all highlighted for their participation in bringing the project to fruition.

Floodplain Manager and Plans Examiner, James R. Schock, is hosting a series of workshops at St. Johns County Libraries to provide information regarding flood risk and mitigation strategies. During the free workshops he will assist the public in using the County website to find what flood area they may be in, the value of flood insurance, and any mitigation that may be possible. He will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hastings Library on September 12, the Bartram Trail Library on September 16, the Main Library on September 17, the Southeast Library on September 22, the Anastasia Library on September 23, and the Ponte Vedra Branch Library September 26. For more information please contact Mr. Schock at 904.827.6806 or jschock@sjcfl.us.

In addition to enhancing the overall aesthetics of the beach, the project can help retain sand along the coast, increase wildlife habitat, limit the amount of light that can affect sea turtle hatchlings, and create a wildlife corridor for Anastasia Island beach mice. For more information please call Beach Services at 904.209.0331. 

St. Johns County School District recently honored the County as the Career Academy Partner of the Year. Key to this designation was St. Johns County's commitment to supporting the district's career academies through internships that prepare students for college and career by providing opportunities to learn through the lens of relevant and engaging real-life-experience. The designation took place during the annual Academy Awards celebration May 22, 2014 at the NFRA Conference Center in St. Augustine, FL, where the School Board, business and community partners, post-secondary education, teachers and students celebrated the Academies' success for the 2013-14 School Year.

All administrative departments of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, the St. Johns County Library System, and the Pet Center will be closed Monday, September 1 in observance of the Labor Day Holiday. All offices will resume standard business hours on Tuesday, September 2. The garbage, recycling, and yard debris schedules will not change due to the holiday and the solid waste scale houses at Tillman Ridge and Stratton Road will remain open.