Green Cove Springs approves 32% tax increase

Green Cove Springs City Council members approved a 4.5000-mill property tax rate for the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget during their Tuesday, Sept. 20 meeting, a 32% increase over the city’s rolled-back rate of 3.4059 mills.

In prior meetings, council members said they needed the additional revenue to recruit and retain city employees by raising wages.

Council member Steven Kelley said the council did not take the tax increase lightly, but the city faced unprecedented challenges over the past two years and will continue to face challenges in the near future. Mayor Matt Johnson added that City Manager Steve Kennedy produced a balanced budget using the rolled-back rate, but that budget did not meet the city’s needs.