BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
GREEN COVE SPRINGS— After hearing from county staff about their options for increasing the county’s utility tax from the current four-percent rate to up to 10%, Clay County commissioners said they were not interested in discussing the rate increase any further.
Commissioner Jim Renninger supported increasing the levy up to the maximum allowable 10%, citing his desire to shift the tax burden away from property owners toward renters, who do not pay property taxes.
However, Renninger found little support for the proposal among his colleagues, and Chair Wayne Bolla directed county staff to cease all work on the project, during a Feb. 22 commission meeting.
Condon pushes back on proposed business tax
Commissioners also discussed imposing a new county-wide business license fee during their Feb. 22 meeting.
The cities of Keystone Heights, Green Cove Springs and Orange Park already require businesses to purchase a license to operate within their municipalities. Keystone Heights charges a flat $25 per year to all enterprises operating within its city limits.
Commissioner Betsy Condon, who represents the Lake Region, questioned the value businesses would receive from the proposed levy. “If we’re going to do this, it almost seems like a money grab from our businesses and I would say, for what?” she said.
Other commissioners said they tentatively supported the plan and instructed Assistant County Manager Troy Nagle to further develop the idea.
