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Fort Walton Beach voters approve all three charter amendments

Residents backed significant changes to city governance Tuesday, including ending elected official pay, requiring property owner approval for special assessments, and limiting budget increases.

Fort Walton Beach voters approved three charter amendments in Tuesday’s election, with measures addressing elected official compensation, special assessments, and budget limitations all receiving majority support.

The first amendment, eliminating compensation for elected officials, passed with 53.58% approval (5,162 votes). While the measure ends salaries and financial benefits for elected officials, it maintains reimbursement for expenses incurred during official duties.

  • Prior to the change, elected officials received the option of accepting health insurance and around $400 in a monthly stipend.

Voters strongly supported the second amendment regarding special assessments, with 67.62% (6,437 votes) in favor. This measure requires the city to obtain approval from a majority of property owners before levying any special assessments on real property.

  • The amendment follows controversy over the 2019 Fire Assessment Fee and includes specific procedures for the City Manager to prepare and circulate petitions.

The third amendment, limiting annual budget increases, received 60.82% support (5,820 votes). This measure limits total annual budgeted expenditures, including capital expenditures and repayment of municipal debt, to an increase from the prior year’s expenditures by the lesser of 3% or the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

  • It includes 12 exemptions for emergency expenses, grant-funded projects, tourist development tax funds, self-supporting enterprise funds, and more.

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Community Comments

“The Big U! The NMU supplied the unlicensed crew and when we lost this ship and its jobs and when U.S. Lines went bankrupt, we were on our way to...”
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“Highschool is finna be more crowed now. We need another highschool not a middle or elementary school.”
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“This is bittersweet. I spent a wonderful week in Cay Sal Banks on the Pilot in 2006. I will have to go pay her a visit soon....”
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“I agree with Jerome. What will this accomplish since both ends are only 4 lanes?”
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“The parking lot at McGuires would disappear along with the parcel that Destin purchased at the bridge.. Flooding on Okaloosa Island would close an expensive update to 98 , at...”
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“This will not make a difference for traffic passing through the center of Destin along Rt. 98. The smart option is to complete the Brooks Bridge and intersection in Ft...”
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“Doesn’t it still end up with 4 lanes on either end after bridges? Seems more aesthetic than a traffic plan. Which is nice too but does it increase the function?”
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“It would be a money pit let’s sink it for the tourists who we don’t have enough of so more will come”
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“Traffic moves pretty well on that stretch of 98, I don't see the need to waste the money. Maybe do something to deal with the traffic in Destin, and Mary...”
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