St. Augustine Airport Authority To Celebrate "Airport Independence Day"

In a time when most local taxing authorities are looking for ways to increase their base or millage rate, something very much out of the ordinary is about to happen at St. Augustine Northeast Florida Regional Airport next week.

On August 16th, the St. Augustine - St. Johns County Airport Authority voted to lower the property tax assessed to homeowners to pay for the Airport Authority so drastically that the average homeowner would pay nothing. Since that time, the Authority received an opinion from the state Attorney General allowing the rate to be eliminated altogether for this coming tax year. That action is expected September 20th 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 event, a special "Airport Independence Day" signing ceremony will take place at the airport on Monday, September 20th, at approximately 1730. In addition to current board members, past members of the Authority will be invited to sign a Resolution recognizing this significant achievement. They and the Airport Authority Staff have all contributed to this success. 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.”

FMI: www.flynfra.com/airportauthority.aspx