City Council to weigh dissolving Hogpen Creek dredging tax

Jacksonville leaders could potentially kill a special taxing district that residents say has created a financial hardship on some homeowners in the Intracoastal West area.

The Hogpen Creek Dependent Special District, which the Jacksonville City Council created last year, is one of about 1,900 such entities across Florida with the power to issue bonds and levy taxes and fees on homeowners living within its borders. District 13 Councilman Rory Diamond helped set in motion the plan to create the district – an effort led by residents who wished to dredge the entire length of Hogpen Creek, and one those residents say would help increase property values for all the residents in the district.

But dredging the creek is estimated to cost the district’s 111 property owners $40,000 each over the course of 10 to 15 years, dividing the estimated $4.5 million cost evenly among people who live between San Pablo Road and the Intracoastal Waterway. While the tax is currently set at $4,500 annually – and the board is limited to $7,500 per year that it can collect from each resident – it can vote to raise that cap. And the district’s existence can be renewed as long as dredging is needed to maintain a depth of 5 to 7.5 feet.

Some residents say that represents a significant financial burden – especially because the creation of the district came without their permission or input. They also lament that the city would not share that financial burden when, some believe, the city bears at least partial responsibility for sediment in the creek. They say the Sandalwood Canal heavily affects the amount of silt and sediment collecting in Hogpen Creek, an issue that cannot be resolved by simply dredging the creek.

Holiday Harbor resident Molton Smith said during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, “There’s no representation from Holiday Harbor or Ketch Cove, which is part of this dredging project. I mean, and they’re talking about adding to our property taxes, another six (thousand) to $7,000 a year.”

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Smith and others have spoken at several City Council meetings, imploring the city to put an end to the district in its current state.

Diamond, the Beaches council member who helped initiate the district, is now set to introduce the proposed legislation, Ordinance 2024-0807, to dissolve it. His new bill is co-sponsored by council member Chris MIller. There was no discussion upon its introduction.

At-Large Council member Ron Salem said in an email that committees are expected to begin work on the new legislation in a few weeks.