Baker County reopens fuel-tax debate to pay for road crews, pay raises and drainage work

Commissioner Benny Bennett opened a public workshop Wednesday asking Baker County staff to lay out options for a local fuel tax to raise money for road maintenance, drainage and staff pay.

Bennett said he believes a fuel tax is fair because “the only one paying it is the one that’s driving the road and buying the gas,” and because it captures purchases made by visitors and nonresidents who buy fuel inside the county.

Staff briefed commissioners on the county’s existing local fuel levies, how those funds are split with nearby municipalities and what additional pennies per gallon could yield. Sarah, a county public‑works staffer, told the board the county currently collects a 6¢ local option gas tax established by an interlocal agreement (updated in 2005) and a separate 1¢ county‑only levy. She said the interlocal agreement that governs the 6¢ allocation expires in June 2025 and that the county receives the majority of that revenue, while smaller shares go to Glen St. Mary and the City of Macclenny. Sarah explained new, additional local option dollars (1–5¢ per gallon) would be 100% county revenue if adopted by ordinance and submitted to the state by Oct. 1, 2025; any new county levy approved by that deadline would begin being collected Jan. 1, 2026.

Staff presented a “down‑and‑dirty” projection of an additional 1–5¢…