Tim Burres says his priorities are traffic, infrastructure, transparency, affordable housing for working residents and restoring trust in county government.
The St. Johns County Commission candidate for District 2 told the St. Augustine Record that years of approving residential development without long-term planning has contributed to the issues St. Johns County residents face today.
Burres, a Republican, is one of four candidates to qualify for District 2. The others are Heather Brofford, Will McMullan and Martin Valerian Pyszczymuka, all Republicans. Since all candidates are Republican, the election will be determined in the primary on Aug. 18, and the primary is open to all voters.
The deadline to register or change party affiliation for the primary as passed. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Aug. 6.
As a St. Johns County resident for more than five decades, the retired law enforcement officer and military veteran acknowledges that while growth is unavoidable, county leaders have too often approved developments without adequately planning for infrastructure, roads, schools and traffic.
‘A six-month or one-year moratorium’
Citing traffic congestion, overcrowded infrastructure and political dysfunction as the issues that require immediate attention, Burres underscored the importance of providing a quality-of-life for residents of St. Johns County, including his children and grandchildren.
“I’ve watched agricultural lands and rural roads transform into brand new areas to support one of the fastest growing counties in Florida,” he said. “Some changes are good, and some changes are bad. But I don’t believe that we’re so far gone we can’t recover.”
Burres acknowledged that while many projects currently under construction have already been approved and “property owners have legal rights that cannot simply be revoked,” he suggested a pause in approving developments while officials evaluate existing projects, infrastructure demands and future growth strategies.
“A six-month or one-year moratorium could provide officials and residents the opportunity to determine a direction that ensures that future growth aligns with available infrastructure,” he said.
Traffic congestion, property taxes and zero budgeting
Without mincing words, Burres underscored the importance of improving congestion, especially along Interstate 95, State Road 16 and International Golf Parkway.
“These are perfect examples of infrastructure lagging behind population growth,” he said. “The county should be more aggressive in securing state and federal transportation funding and should explore lower-cost improvements such as better traffic signal coordination.”
Burres added that while lowering or eliminating taxes may sound attractive to homeowners, residential property taxes support essential local services such as law enforcement, fire rescue, government functions and infrastructure.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature have placed an initiative on the Nov. 3 general election ballot that would raise the homestead exemption from $50,000, as it is now, to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. The measure is aimed at eliminating a large portion of property taxes that Florida homeowners pay on their primary residences. If passed by 60% of voters, it will significantly impact traditional revenue of local communities.
“Any reduction in ad valorem tax revenue could create a significant budget shortfall if state leaders do not provide replacement funding,” he said. “With the residents paying the majority of taxes, I don’t believe that the county is receiving its fair share of revenue back from Tallahassee. Additional state and federal assistance could help address road, school and infrastructure needs created by continued growth.”
Burres supports a zero-based budgeting model that would require departments to justify spending and allow taxpayers to better understand the allocation of funding. He said residents deserve greater visibility into development approvals, infrastructure planning and major county projects.
“As a taxpayer, you have a right to know how your money is being spent,” he said, adding that openness and responsiveness is necessary to rebuild public confidence in government.
“We need a budgeting process that requires officials to justify spending and account for every dollar while identifying ways to reduce waste while maintaining core services,” he continued.
Burres said the county needs to better steward taxpayer funds and suggested extending vehicle replacement schedules and redirecting outsourced services in-house to reduce costs.
Cost of living in St. Johns County
The candidate rejected suggestions made by several candidates during public forums that St. Johns County is not a place for everyone, arguing that teachers, firefighters, deputies and other public employees should be able to afford to live where they work. He said county officials should explore incentives, fee reductions and tax-saving measures to help working families remain in the community.
“It’s appalling that residents can work in St. Johns County but not afford to live here,” he said.
School over-crowding, Hastings and West Augustine
When discussing school overcrowding, Burres called for better coordination between the county, the school board, fire officials and other agencies before schools are built. While acknowledging that portable classrooms remain necessary in the short term, he insisted that the county do a better job of anticipating growth to accelerate building permanent facilities.
Beyond the county’s rapidly growing northwest corridor, Burres said communities such as Hastings and West Augustine deserve greater investment and economic opportunity. He supports efforts to attract businesses and jobs to those areas and said public-private partnerships could help revitalize underserved neighborhoods.
“West Augustine residents have long complained that their tax dollars have been invested elsewhere while their community receives fewer benefits,” he said. “Residents feel that they have been deprived for a long time. West Augustine needs more business recruitment, more public-private partnerships and a greater investment in neighborhood services and amenities.”
Burres added that West Augustine needs better modes of transportation for the elderly and those without cars to get around.
“And Hastings has been neglected for decades,” he said. “The county needs to attract higher-paying employers to the area while supporting economic development that allows residents to work closer to home.”
He also expressed support for the Black History Museum initiative and preserving civil-rights history.
‘World Golf Village is a missed opportunity’
Burres described the current state of World Golf Village as a missed opportunity and insisted on greater transparency from property owners and stakeholders about their long-term plans for the largely vacant commercial site.
He also supports continued funding for Nights of Lights because “the economic return outweighs public investment,” and praised Bill Dudley for spearheading such “incredible programs for local veterans,” adding that he believes more can be done for disabled military veterans through affordable housing initiatives.
“I hope to create small housing communities that could provide veterans with temporary homes and support as they transition back into the workforce,” he said.
‘Those trying to undermine me are afraid’
Despite receiving “heated, vicious and false” political attacks on social media that question his service, integrity and reputation, Burres said that he will keep his campaign focused on issues rather than personal disputes.
“Those trying to undermine me are afraid that if I elected, I would actually serve the people,” he said. “The current commission has been so divided, little has been accomplished. The people’s trust has been undermined. Now add the current legal allegations for election fraud to the mix. This is a mess that serves no one that needs to be fixed.”
Burres also said residents on the campaign trail often complain that commissioners fail to return phone calls, emails or requests for information.
“Drawing on my 25-year law enforcement career, public service requires direct communication and accountability,” he said. “If people call, you call them back or you go to see them. If elected, I will be accessible to residents to provide clearer explanations of how tax dollars are spent and how county decisions are made.”
Guided by “public service, ethics and transparency,” Burres is determined to “preserve the county I’ve called home for most of my life.”
According to campaign finance reports filed with the Supervisor of Elections Office, Burres raised a total of $13,150 in donations through the first two quarters of 2026, including dozens of contributions from individuals. The largest contributions from organizations were $1,000 each from Lodge 113 of the Fraternal Order of Police and Elleness, a St. Augustine law firm. He spent $7,046 on the qualifying fee and campaign signage.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Tim Burres says St. Johns County needs transparency, pause on growth
Reporting by Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record / St. Augustine Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record | USA TODAY Network
