By Cindy Jackson
Reporter
September 25, 2019
Approved at the September 23, 2019, meeting of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners were several notable resolutions to adopt:
• the budget for 2019/2020 in the amount of $255,429,545
• the (county-wide) millage rate of 9.3892 (broken down as follows):
o County-wide millage 7.4278
o Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) 2.3093
o Recreation and Water Conservation District 0.0000
o Amelia Island Beach Renourishment District 0.1020
• the utilization of the one-cent sales tax (a subset of the total budget) in the amount of $11,874,859
All motions were approved by a vote of 5-0.
County Attorney/County Manager Michael Mullin noted that “budget increases, taking out for public safety, are minimal,” underscoring that all increases are a result of growth.
Mullin when on to state that “for every dollar in a household tax, it costs $1.75 for services for that house.” He also said that those averages are for every county . . . not just Nassau.
Commissioner Pat Edwards echoed those sentiments when he stated “growth is driving our budget.” Commissioner Leeper referenced the recession and stated that “it’s hard to catch up . . . but this is a multi-year budget.”
The Commissioners also gave approval to the Final Development Plan for a 10 foot multi-use trail extending from the Enclave at Summer Beach to the Amelia Island Parkway within the Summer Beach Planned Unit Development (PUD). This is a privately funded project (which is being born by the developers of The Enclave) and will be open to the public.
Consideration of the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan was postponed until October 14 at which time the BOCC will also hold a public hearing to amend the Impact Fee Ordinance and Repealing the Replacing Parks and Recreation Facilities Impact Fee. That meeting will take place at 6PM in Commission Chambers, Commission Chambers located within the James S. Page Governmental Complex at 96135 Nassau Place in Yulee.
Editor’s Note: Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Cindy received her BA in Political Science from Dickinson College. Upon graduation, Cindy began her career on Capitol Hill working as a legislative aide and director. She later became a part of the public relations and lobbying team of the American Iron and Steel Institute and served as director of the office of state legislative affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Cindy was involved in economic development with the state of Maryland, and served as executive director of Leadership Washington County. As a community volunteer, Cindy participates in numerous volunteer activities serving as a member of Sunrise Rotary, and as board member of Cummer Amelia Board of Directors.