St. Johns County outlines FY27 proposed budget; two public hearings set for Sept. 3 and Sept. 15

St. Johns County officials presented a recommended fiscal year 2027 budget and proposed millage rates during the recent Board of County Commissioners meeting, but the board did not finalize either the budget or the millage.

"This was just the proposed budget. The board did not finalize a budget. They did not finalize the millage rate or property tax rate, if you will," Wayne Larson, St. Johns County Director of Public Affairs, said on the county's post-meeting radio summary. Larson urged residents to view the recorded meeting and explained the budget will return for two public hearings: the first on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 5:00 p.m., and the second and final hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The county administrator provided a presentation summarizing last year’s accomplishments and outlined scenarios should statewide property-tax reform alter revenue expectations; staff said the FY27 materials are a recommended starting point rather than a final adoption. Larson and staff recommended citizens consult the county’s online meeting timestamps to jump directly to the budget presentation and to attend the public hearings to comment before adoption.

Next steps: county staff will continue budget work between now and the hearings, and the board is scheduled to reconvene for the two public hearings before adopting any millage rate or the final FY27 budget.