The City of St. Augustine wants a major boost in funding from St. Johns County for its annual Nights of Lights celebration — requesting $1.2 million, a sixfold increase from last year’s $200,000 contribution, officials told the Tourism Development Council on Tuesday.
Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, a member of the TDC, said the funding is necessary to address escalating logistical challenges at the city’s hallmark holiday event.
“We really just kind of lay ourselves at your feet here to find a way to make the recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners to fund these costs,” Sikes-Kline told the council.
According to St. Augustine Assistant City Manager Meredith Breidenstein, the funding breakdown includes $320,000 for portable restrooms at the Bank of America parking lot, $550,000 for expanded shuttle service, and $190,000 for crowd-control measures such as barricades.
Some officials were supportive of parts of the request but questioned whether the city should take on more financial responsibility.
ST AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSIONER CALLS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS “GAUDY” AMID RESIDENT COMPLAINTS
St. Johns County Board Commissioner Krista Joseph, who also sits on the TDC, said she backed certain items but expressed reservations.
“I’m totally supportive of the shuttle and the funding for restrooms,” Joseph said. “The rest of it — I feel like the city needs to figure out how to build that in.”
The TDC unanimously approved a resolution directing county staff to assess the feasibility of allocating the requested funds.
One cost-saving suggestion raised during the meeting was to scale back or eliminate a lightly used visitors center in Ponte Vedra Beach.
TDC member Troy Blevins said he backed additional funding, but was skeptical about the budget outlook. “The chances of us getting to $1.2 million is not that high,” he said.
St. Augustine City Manager David Birchim noted that the final number could still change. The request for shuttle funding, he said, may drop significantly if the Florida Department of Transportation does not approve a dedicated bus lane — a key traffic-calming measure that may not be implemented in time for this year’s event.
“This may be an aspect of the Nights of Lights that we can’t take advantage of during this coming season but will work toward in the coming years,” Birchim said.
Several TDC members also asked whether the city could introduce additional revenue sources to help offset costs, such as expanding paid parking.
Once county staff complete their funding assessment, the TDC will issue a formal recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners regarding the final amount of support for the event.
Amid a surge in resident quality of life complaints after the most recent Nights of Lights event, the St. Augustine City Commission cut down its length earlier this year.
Backers assert that it serves as a crucial economic lifeline for local business and staffers, while critics assert that the event has exceeded the city’s ability to absorb it.
