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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

“Yea Don Gaetz of all people, he should go!”
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“Why the H... does anyone vote for any politician who is in favor of having the horrible disgusting private beaches? Every resident, every visitor, every tax payer MUST have a...”
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“The air force doesn't own or need the land! It isn't theirs. It was mostly Choctawhatchee National Forest. The air force tried to sell that land in the 2000's but...”
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“Those signs that you recommend have been there for years, just people annoyed them to the point that Eglin has now had to step the game up”
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“Now that Ms. Ketchel has torn down more dunes, plus paved over what was beautiful sand, golf carts can drive from one end to the other. No way to cross...”
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“It shows the beach being a part of the property. This was part of the plot plan. When the documents were shown to the attorney in depositions the Walton County...”
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“Great history lesson. The only point I'll disagree with is the multi use path... I think its a good thing. Maybe a lot of money but it may save a...”
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“This fence is a colossal waste of DoD dollars and needs to be investigated. These dollars should have been spent supporting the warfighter. The ruse that it protects environmentally sensitive...”
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“This article is obviously written by someone with 0 knowledge of the area. The erosion happening now is because " The Wall," as anyone that's been here since the 70's...”
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