Yes, the Fernandina Beach Municipal Golf Course could potentially be sold, as it is city-owned municipal property and Florida law generally allows municipalities to dispose of such assets. However, based on historical discussions in Fernandina Beach, the sale of certain city-owned lands—including recreational or conservation properties like this golf course—often requires voter approval via referendum, especially if rezoning is involved for development. There have been past considerations of selling or repurposing the golf course, including non-binding straw polls on ballots and public debates about its financial burden on taxpayers (it has been noted to cost the city up to $1.5 million annually in subsidies across city enterprises like the golf course, marina, and airport). It is not explicitly classified as “parkland” in available records, but its municipal recreational use could trigger similar protections under the city charter or local ordinances.

How Might It Happen, and Would It Need Voter Approval?

The process would typically start with the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) proposing the sale, often after public hearings, appraisals, and potentially competitive bidding as required by Florida Statutes Chapter 166, which governs municipal property disposition. If the land is to be rezoned for residential development (e.g., from municipal/recreational to residential), or if it’s deemed a significant public asset, a voter referendum would likely be required based on past city practices for similar parcels. Florida law doesn’t universally mandate voter approval for all municipal sales, but local charters or ordinances can impose it—especially for properties acquired or dedicated for public use. In Fernandina Beach’s case, historical examples (e.g., 2013-2014 discussions) suggest a referendum would be needed for the golf course due to its public recreational status. If approved by voters, the city could then proceed to sell via public auction, direct negotiation, or RFP, with proceeds going to the city’s general fund or designated uses.

Tax Revenue, Sale Proceeds, and Impact Fees

Using the parcel’s calculated acreage of 275.52 acres (as shown in the image, to align with your conservative assumptions), here’s the breakdown:

• Initial Sales Price: At $300,000 per acre, the total sale price would be 275.52 × $300,000 = $82,656,000. This is the gross proceeds to the city from selling the land (before any costs like appraisals or legal fees).

• Impact Fees Expected: Impact fees are one-time charges on new development to fund infrastructure like schools, roads, parks, police/fire, and utilities. For residential development in Fernandina Beach (within Nassau County), fees apply from both city and county levels. Based on current rates:

• Nassau County educational impact fee: ~$5,431 per single-family home.

• Other county fees (e.g., mobility, law enforcement, recreation): ~$2,000–$3,000 per home across categories like transportation (~$1,000), recreation (~$938), and administrative (~$962).

• City municipal impact fees (police, fire, parks): ~$3.95 per square foot, which for an average 2,000 sq ft home equates to ~$7,900 per home.

• Utility impact fees (water/sewer): Historically in the thousands per home, based on past refunds averaging significant amounts per development.
Assuming 3 homes per acre yields 826 homes (275.52 × 3 = 826.56, floored conservatively). Total impact fees per home might average $12,000–$18,000 (conservative midpoint of $15,000 to account for all categories and recent studies suggesting slight reductions). Thus, total impact fees from the development could be around $12,390,000 (826 × $15,000), split among city, county, schools, and other authorities. This is an estimate; actuals depend on home sizes, exemptions (e.g., for affordable housing), and any fee updates.

• Total Taxable Value: With 826 homes at an average price of $750,000 each and 80% assessed value ($600,000 per home), the total taxable (assessed) value would be 826 × $600,000 = $495,600,000.

• Recurring Tax Revenue: This refers to annual property taxes from the new homes. Using Fernandina Beach’s 2025-26 city millage rate of 4.6849 mills (unchanged from prior year), the city’s portion of annual tax revenue would be $495,600,000 × 0.0046849 ≈ $2,321,836. However, total recurring taxes (including county, school, and other districts) could be higher, as Nassau County’s total millage rates are around 15–20 mills combined—potentially generating $7–$10 million annually overall, depending on exact taxing districts. These figures assume full build-out and no exemptions; actual revenue would phase in as homes are constructed and assessed.