Most would agree that in today’s world of steadily increasing taxes and sporadic arguments about the value of lowering taxes, thought is rarely given to the prospect of actually eliminating a tax. But that’s just what is about to happen in St. Augustine, Florida.
The St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport Authority, which operates the Northeast Florida Regional Airport (formerly the St. Augustine Airport) recently voted to lower its tax rate so drastically that the average homeowner will pay nothing. Since that time, receipt of an Attorney General Opinion will allow the rate to be eliminated altogether for this coming tax year. That action is expected Sept. 20 at the final public hearing.
“In 2004, we promised the taxpayers we would remove the authority from the tax rolls in seven years,” said Wayne George, a member of the board of directors. “After much work to position ourselves so this could actually be done, we have arrived.”
To commemorate this momentous event, a special “Airport Independence Day” signing ceremony will take place at the airport on Monday, Sept. 20, at approximately 5:30 p.m. In addition to current board members, past members of the authority will be invited to sign a Resolution recognizing this achievement. Local and state dignitaries will be in attendance and members of the public are cordially invited.
“It is most refreshing to have something as unusual as the elimination of a tax to celebrate,” said Ron Sanchez, County Commission Chairman. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
For more information: 904-209-0090 or SGJ-airport.com
Commissioner Sanchez had nothing to do with it. But he is overjoyed because it gave him the opportunity to push through a 33% increase in the bed tax (also payed by the poorest in the county) so he could have the County fund and produce the Harvest of Hope Punk Rock Festivals which wasted over 200,000 dollars of taxpayers money over the two years they were held.