Candidate for Nassau County Commission opposes "Sand Tax"

Press Release

January 4, 2015 10:30 a.m.

Joe Zimmerman, Candidate for Nassau County Board of Commissioners

This week the Nassau County Commission passed a municipal services taxing unit for beach re-nourishment, better known as the 'Sand Tax' for the City of Fernandina Beach. A Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) is a funding mechanism for community members to create, through approval of the Board of County Commissioners, a special taxing district to make improvements to their neighborhood and/or community area.

"New taxes only serve to slow down economic growth and create an unfair burden for the taxpayers who live in Fernandina Beach. People are weary of never ending demand for new tax dollars. I am opposed to this "sand tax" and would favor other alternatives to fund this beach re-nourishment obligation, such as a greater involvement by our local legislators to help provide funding through a state program, and seek a local bill to make changes to the bed tax that is paid by tourists who visit our beaches," said Zimmerman.

"More taxes on residents are never an answer to the challenges we face as a community. Nassau County benefits from the beaches on Amelia Island. We need to focus on a solution that does not saddle this responsibility on a narrow group of citizens, some of whom are living on a fixed income and almost never use the beach. I will work to find alternative solutions to the challenge of beach re-nourishment. I will stand with the residents of Fernandina Beach and oppose this new burdensome tax," said Zimmerman.

Joe Zimmerman is a Republican candidate running to fill the seat of District

5 on the County Commission.