Okaloosa County Tax Collector Ben Anderson has earned a designation for excellence in financial operations.

“The Legacy Award is one of the highest achievements the Florida Tax Collector’s Association can award a local Tax Collector,” said Florida Tax Collectors Inc. Past-President Diane Nelson of Pinellas County. “The judging process was arduous and included a detailed review of the financial functions of the Tax Collector’s Office. I am very proud to say that Mr. Anderson has earned the designation. He represents the very top echelon of elected officials.”

A judging panel performed a detailed review of the tax collector’s financial records, practices and technology use in considering Anderson for the honor.

Last year, Anderson earned the Excellence in Financial Operations Award after demonstrating proficiency in innovation and automation; a perfect annual audit report; customer Focus; and budgeting.

For the 2014 Legacy Award, Anderson demonstrated that the office had further enhanced its financial operations.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa tax collector earns Award for Excellence

CRESTVIEW — Four City Council members and Mayor David Cadle will not attend Rep. Matt Gaetz's Sept. 30 town hall meeting on government accountability.

Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, recently established the Okaloosa Accountability Initiative, which creates partnerships among local elected officials. The effort includes a series of five public meetings, beginning Tuesday; creating a community-driven agenda; and setting up a website where residents can share ideas.

City attorney Jerry Miller cautioned the council about a potential sunshine law violation. He suggested that city leaders appoint a representative to attend the meeting.

“I don’t think that it's a problem that someone would go and at least demonstrate that you’re interested in hearing what it is that they have to say,” Councilwoman Robyn Helt said during Monday's city council meeting. “I don’t see the harm in sending someone. I just didn’t want everyone (on the city council) to show up and subject themselves to the sunshine issue.” 

Councilman Joe Blocker also wasn’t opposed to sending a representative.

However, he said, “I don’t think a council member should attend that meeting, period."

Still, city leaders did not formally appoint a representative.

Blocker, Helt and Council President Shannon Hayes were the only council members present for the meeting. Thomas Gordon and Mickey Rytman were absent.

On Thursday, Rytman offered no immediate response about attending Gaetz's meeting, but Gordon said he would be unable to attend after returning from an out-of-state trip next week.

Mayor David Cadle said he can't attend Gaetz's meeting because he will be out of town.  

Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee, stated in an email that Florida's open meetings law applies to discussion of public business between two or more members of the same board or council.   

With sufficient notice to the public, Crestview council members could attend and participate in the meeting, she said.

"So the members of the city council could certainly attend the town hall meeting, but should refrain from participating or talking among themselves — that could be a sunshine violation." she stated.

Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley, Elections Supervisor Paul Lux, Okaloosa Schools Superintendant Mary Beth Jackson and Commissioners-Elect Carolyn Ketchel and Trey Goodwin are among those scheduled to attend Gaetz's meeting, which is 5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 30 at Niceville City Hall.

Elected officials from Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther and Valparaiso reportedly will join them.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview officials opt out of attending Gaetz town hall meeting

CRESTVIEW — The City Council unanimously voted to adopt fiscal year 2015's millage rate and budget.

That includes a 5.8466 millage rate and a $29,078,286 budget, according to the approved resolution. One mill is $1 of tax per thousand dollars of taxable property value.

Neither the council nor the attending public offered objections during the meeting.

The city's fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30, 2015. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Council OKs $29M budget, millage rate

The Okaloosa RESTORE Act Committee will meet 6 p.m. Monday in Room 302 of the Northwest Florida State College Student Services Center. The public is encouraged to attend.

The United States Congress enacted the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies Act after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners adopted a March 2013 resolution to establish the Okaloosa RESTORE Act Advisory Committee to help the board determine valid projects under the RESTORE Act.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa RESTORE Act Committee meets Monday

FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa County commissioners' unanimously approved 2014-15 budget includes an increase for unincorporated residents.

The $310 million spending plan increases the Municipal Services Taxing Unit, or MSTU, from .1800 to .2990 mills. The increased taxes will generate an additional $800,000 for storm water repairs across the county.

For a property valued at $150,000, the tax increase will mean an additional $1.49 per month and an additional $17.85 per year. For a property valued at $100,000, the increase will mean an additional 99 cents a month and an additional $11.90 a year.

County Administrator Ernie Padgett said the additional revenue will allow the county “to start playing catch-up on its much needed backlog of storm water projects.”

The 2014-15 budget keeps the county-wide property tax rate steady at 3.4308 mills and provides all county employees with a $500 raise.

The budget also provides Sheriff Larry Ashley with a one-time increase of $500,000 to cover equipment needs that would have otherwise gone unfunded.

The board and the Sheriff’s Office agreed to dip into $1.4 million fund set aside to cover the cost of paying OCSO employees who have money owed them when they leave the county.

The county will take about $825,000 out of the fund, giving $500,000 to the Sheriff’s Office and placing the remaining $325,000 into reserves.

Commissioner Don Amunds voted against the millage increase but for the overall budget.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Tax hike for some Okaloosa property owners

CRESTVIEW — The City Council has approved 16 ordinances to complete a lengthy rezoning project.

They affect residential areas near Valley Road including the Rolling Pines, Valleycreek and Gartman  townhome subdivisions.

City leaders unanimously passed the ordinances; council members Mickey Rytman and Thomas Gordon were absent from Monday's meeting.

City Geographic Information System mapping analyst and planning technician Teresa Gaillard worked to identify wrongly zoned residential areas and rezone them to comply with the city’s comprehensive plan. 

City Clerk Betsy Roy worked with Gaillard in writing the ordinances for the council’s approval.

Roy, who oversees the Administrative Services Department, has said affected properties originally were zoned for future commercial land use, which allowed for higher-density residential development than residential zoning. Some developments were in an industrial zoned area.

When the neighborhoods were built, developers followed regulations for single- and multi-family dwelling zoning, but the zoning didn’t change.

The new ordinances rezone the neighborhoods under the zoning criteria that the homes were constructed under.

In other business, the council:

•Unanimously approved a resolution for out-of-city water services for property on Chestnut Avenue after the property owner submitted a petition.

•Passed a resolution recognizing National Community Planning Month in October. Roy said the request came from the West Florida Regional Planning Council. The resolution recognizes all city planners for their work.

Staff Writer Brian Hughes contributed to this report.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council completes rezoning project

LAUREL HILL — No city tax increases are in store for Laurel Hill residents.

The city's 2015 fiscal budget, which the City Council approved 3-0 on Thursday, includes the current 3.5 millage rate.

Councilwoman Betty Williamson couldn't attend the final meeting due to a family matter.

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No public or council input was given regarding the proposed millage rate and city budget at either public meeting scheduled within the last two weeks. 

Like last year’s budget, both the city’s general and enterprise — or water department services — operating funds are balanced.

The general operating fund shows an income and expense of $839,024. The same fund for last year’s proposed budget was balanced at $247, 374. The substantial difference comes from the city’s recently acquired $600,000 grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, which is designated for road repairs.

The enterprise operating fund is balanced at $217,500. Last year’s budget was balanced at $217,400. The difference in the amount comes from a 5 to 6 percent increase in garbage administrative fees, City Clerk Nita Miller said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: No city tax increases for Laurel Hill residents