The current sales tax in Okaloosa County is 7%: It consists of the 6% state sales tax plus the county’s 1% local option sales tax.
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, sales tax is not due during the sales tax holiday period on the retail sale of:
Clothing, footwear, wallets, bags, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, and diaper bags with a sales price of $100 or less per item
Certain school supplies with a sales price of $50 or less per item. Examples include binders, colored pencils, composition books, construction paper, crayons, erasers, and folders.
Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles with a sales price of $30 or less. Examples of exempt learning aid items include electronic books, flashcards, learning cards and matching games.
Personal computers and certain computer-related accessories with a sales price of $1,500 or less, when purchased for non-commercial home or personal use.
The sales tax holiday does not apply to:
Briefcases, suitcases, or garment bags
Watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, and handkerchiefs
Skis, swim fins, roller blades, and skates
Clothing items with a sales price of more than $100
Any school supply item with a sales price of more than $50
Books that are not otherwise exempt
Computers and computer-related accessories with a sales price of more than $1,500
Cellular telephones, video game consoles, digital media receivers, or devices that are not primarily designed to process data
Computers and computer-related accessories purchased for commercial purposes
Rentals of any eligible items
Repairs or alterations of any eligible items
Sales of any eligible items within a theme park or entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport.
At the council’s July 8 budget meeting, at which the board discussed the city’s overall proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, councilors learned that making the long-proposed sports complex a reality could cost up to $118 million, plus many millions more in finance expenses.
Those details were provided to the city by a bond consulting firm and the Midway-based Ajax Building Co., the latter of which provides the city with various “total project management” services.
‘Too excessive’
The up to $118 million figure includes the cost of developing amenities such as baseball/softball fields and an indoor recreational facility but not a swimming pool, which would have boosted the total price tag much higher. Other project expenses include design and other preconstruction costs, furnishings and equipment, and up to almost $5 million to buy at least 100 acres of land for the complex, according to information from Ajax.
Earlier this year, city officials had considered possibly purchasing at least 100 acres of land for a sports complex from the owners of several hundred acres of land north of the Antioch Road-U.S. Highway 90 intersection.
However, “We never got that far into negotiations” on buying land at that location, Crestview City Manager Jessica Leavins said on Wednesday.
Leavins
City officials would, with voter approval via a referendum, have to borrow money to pay for an up to $118 million sports complex. According to information provided by the city, the total debt on a 20-year municipal bond to pay for such a complex would be over $179 million, with average annual debt payments amounting to almost $9 million.
To pay the total debt, city officials said, they would have to increase the city’s millage rate by 4.4 mills. The rate of 4.4 mills per $1,000 of taxable property is equal to $440 per $100,000 of property value, which means many Crestview property owners would face greatly higher property tax bills just to pay for the sports complex.
The required millage rate increase, however, is not tenable, council members said at the July 8 budget meeting.
“That, in my opinion, is too excessive an amount to put on the citizens,” Councilor Shannon Hayes said. “There’s no way you can get me to support that millage rate for anything. The people I associate and talk with wouldn’t support it, either.”
Hayes
Mayor Pro Tem Doug Capps said he is “absolutely” against any kind of property tax rate increase to pay for a sports complex.
Capps
After more discussion, the council agreed to focus on having an indoor recreation facility – to include basketball courts and, possibly, pickleball courts – built somewhere in Crestview, rather than establishing a major sports complex.
“The primary goal is to meet the needs of our kids,” Leavins said at the meeting.
A city-owned site
Leavins noted at the budget session that the Twin Hills Park gym, which received roof upgrades and other structural repairs in recent years, is many decades old and no longer a viable structure. She added that city officials learned relatively recently that the gym does not have a humidity-controlling vapor barrier, which makes installing a new HVAC system at the facility futile.
One possible location for a new indoor rec center, city officials said, is the city-owned Spanish Trail Park. About half of the property at this almost 24-acre park on Stillwell Boulevard is unutilized.
The park currently includes two ballfields, the Senior Activity Center, and an amphitheater. During the budget meeting, city officials talked about the possibility of demolishing the amphitheater to provide space for an indoor rec facility.
Leavins on Wednesday said Ajax will later be asked to create a master plan for the entire Spanish Trail Park. The plan will include information on whether an indoor rec facility at the park is feasible. The city does not yet have an estimated timeline on when the plan will be made, Leavins said.
She and some city councilors have pointed out that the overall cost of developing an indoor rec center would be much lower if it’s built on land the city already owns.
During the budget meeting, the council approved setting the city’s proposed FY ’26 millage rate at 6.65. With final council approval in September, the 6.65 rate would mark the second consecutive of the millage rate being decreased by one-tenth of a percent.
While standing in front of the American check-in counter this morning, Okaloosa County Airports Director Tracy Stage announced the new daily direct service to the Magic City.
Stage said he was “ecstatic” to announce, with American, “that we finally secured intrastate service direct to Miami.”
Okaloosa County Airports Director Tracy Stage shares American Airlines’ big news at VPS. (Photo by Tony Judnich)
American Airlines has operated at VPS for nearly two decades, he said. Among other passengers, Stage said the direct flights to Miami “will greatly benefit business travelers from Okaloosa County” and “connect businesses to global markets.”
He said MIA holds a unique and vital position as the premier gateway between the United States to the Caribbean and Latin America.
A traveler is dropped off this morning at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. (Photo by Tony Judnich)
Stage also announced that American will extend its service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) year-round at VPS. Flights to Chicago on American, which currently are offered daily in the summer seasons, will now be offered through the winter seasons as well.
Okaloosa County Commission Chairman Paul Mixon praised the new intrastate route to Miami and the expanded service to Chicago, the latter of which he said, “is a really important market for us in tourist development.”
American Airlines’ planes at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. (Photo courtesy of Okaloosa County)
“Our flights to Miami and year-round service to Chicago will complement American’s existing flights to Charlotte (North Carolina), Dallas-Fort Worth, and Washington D.C.,” Jason Reisinger, American’s managing director of global network planning, said today in a news release. “With seamless connections to the Caribbean, Europe, Australia and everything in between, American is ready to welcome travelers on their next seamless journey from Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport.”
Tickets to Miami, and to Chicago during the winter months, will be available for purchase starting on Monday at aa.com or through American’s mobile app.
“Looking to get the most out of your $1,800 Social Security check while enjoying sunny beaches and mild winters at the same time? If you’re from an area with a high cost of living, you can make your funds stretch a lot further by moving to Florida in retirement,” according to the article from last Friday.
“Plus, Florida doesn’t have state income tax. Of course, to have a stress-free retirement, you’ll need to balance affordability with other concerns such as safety, healthcare, and cultural life.”
In Crestview, the average monthly rent is $940 and the average home value is $294,162, according to pricing data pulled from Zillow for the article.
“Crestview, the seat of Okaloosa County in the Florida panhandle, is a good option if you enjoy small-town living, with 27,000 residents,” according to the article. “Nicknamed the ‘Hub City,’ Crestview is located at the junction of three highways, with easy access to Pensacola, Tallahassee, and the beach.
“The city is quiet and family-friendly, and the nearby Eglin Air Force Base provides a military presence.”
In Milton, the average monthly rent is $1,050 and the average home value is $283,342, according to cited pricing data from Zillow.
The Blackwater River next to downtown Milton. (Photo courtesy of financebuzz.com)
“Milton is a city of just 10,000 people close to Pensacola, so it offers nature and small-town living with a big city nearby,” according to the article. “Residents enjoy canoeing, fishing, and hiking in Blackwater River State Park. They also have access to Pensacola’s white sand beaches.”
The article does not mention the white sand beaches of Navarre Beach.
The other cities listed in the article consist of Bartow, Edgewater, Gainesville, Homosassa Springs, Lake Wales, Lakeland, Panama City, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Titusville, and Winter Haven.
The public is invited to celebrate a groundbreaking ceremony for Tarpon Beach Gulf Front Park at 9 a.m. Monday, July 7 at 3310 Scenic Highway 98.
This new beachfront park will offer 340 feet of additional public beach access, free parking with 49 standard spaces, three ADA-accessible spaces, and 29 low-speed vehicle spaces, as well as restrooms, four pavilions and breathtaking views of the Gulf.
“This is a great example of how partnerships can benefit the public,” District 5 County Commissioner Drew Palmer said in a news release. “Our beaches are an amazing asset that should be enjoyed by both our locals and visitors. We are fortunate to continue to expand beach access to the public as a vital part of our efforts to create opportunities for families to make memories in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.”
Palmer
Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner said, “Through initiatives like Tarpon Beach Park, we’re safeguarding our coastal ecosystems, ensuring that the natural beauty and biodiversity of our shores remain intact for future generations to experience and cherish.”
Wagner
The Tarpon Beach Gulf Front Park project is Phase II of a dedicated effort by the city of Destin and the County Commission to effectively use tourism revenue and expand public beach access for residents and visitors with a total investment of $26.5 million shared between the city and county.
Phase I includes expanded public beach access at nearby Crystal Beach, with a total project cost of $9.75 million. The total project cost for the Phase II Tarpon Beach Gulf Front Park project is $16.75 million.
The Trust for Public Land was the lead agency that helped negotiate the purchase of the properties for both Crystal Beach and Tarpon Beach projects.
“Tarpon Beach Gulf Front Park is the result of years of collaboration to ensure that everyone can enjoy walkable access to Florida’s iconic shoreline,” Doug Hattaway, the Trust’s land conservation director, said. “This park not only reconnects the community with a beautiful stretch of waterfront and long-closed amenities, but also reinforces our shared commitment to protecting public access to nature and preserving the unique coastal character that makes Destin so special.”
This free-admission event is scheduled to take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at Crestview’s Spanish Trail Park, 205 Stillwell Blvd.
Field Day is the annual worldwide exercise ensuring radio operators and equipment are ready for emergencies, members of the not-for-profit, 40-year-old NOARC said in a news release. For the exercise, members will set up antennas and radios while demonstrating ham radio’s science, skill, and service to local communities and the nation.
“Ham Radio is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission for the purpose of providing emergency communications during grid-down situations,” NOARC members said. “During hurricane season, the North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club provides radio operators for the Crestview storm shelters and the Okaloosa County Emergency Operations Center.”
The purpose of the club is to encourage the unity, fellowship, and activities of the amateur radio community in the Okaloosa County and neighboring communities, members said on the club’s website. The group has members from Santa Rosa, Walton, and Okaloosa counties, as well as from Covington County, Alabama.
The club meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at Live Oak Baptist Church, 4565 Live Oak Church Road, Crestview.
To learn more, visit w4aaz.org and the club’s Facebook page.
The Friends group, which has 42 volunteer members, donated three metal picnic tables to the public library, 1445 Commerce Drive, in April. Two of the tables stand under oaks on the library’s west side, and one stands beneath an oak on the east side.
The three tables cost a total of more than $3,000, Joan Giroux, treasurer of the Friends group, said today. Proceeds from Friends-sponsored book sales, which benefit the library in numerous ways, were used for the purchases.
Homeschooled children and their moms are some of the many people who have been enjoying the picnic tables, Friends fundraiser chairman Wanda Hulion said.
The Friends’ highly popular book sales are held twice per year. The next sale is scheduled for Aug. 22 and 23 at the Crestview Community Center just east of the library.
Besides donating the picnic tables, Friends group members recently used earnings from the book sales to purchase a popcorn machine, a snow cone machine, a display case, and a Lego Star Wars Death Star set for the library.
The recently donated snow cone and popcorn machines. (Photo by Tony Judnich)
“We hope to have both machines going for summer reading and summer movies,” Crestview Library Director Jean McCarthy said.
The display case will contain various items that can be rented from the library. The Lego set is used for Adult Lego Nights.
Michael “Mic” Harker, vice president of the Friends of the Crestview Library, shows the new display case the Friends group gave to the library.
Giroux said the Friends group also recently donated $1,299 to the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative for scholarships that will assist people who are working to obtain their high school diploma.
“Everything they do goes back to the community,” McCarthy said of the Friends group members, adding that their many contributions “create a lot more excitement about the library.”
An annual membership in the Friends group costs $10 for an individual and $20 for a family. Membership applications are available at the library.
The festival, which has free admission, will take place at Heritage Park next to the nonprofit Baker Block Museum, 1307B Georgia Ave.
The museum is a local history and genealogy museum. The festival represents the museum’s second largest fundraiser after the Baker Heritage Day celebration, which takes place in November.
This year’s Arts Festival will feature more than 30 vendors, Baker Block Museum Executive Director Ann Spann said today.
Art is found in many forms, even ladies’ hats. (Photo by Stephanie Holcombe)
Items for sale will include original paintings, woodworking items, jewelry, candles, flowers and wreaths, birdhouses, soaps, natural herbs, baked goods, homemade ice cream, and other types of food.
The fest also will include informational booths hosted by local clubs, such as the Baker Area Garden Club.
Featuring more than 100 visual artists, as well as live music and theater performances and master craftsman blacksmith demonstrations, the festival will take place on the Dugas Pavilion green at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, 4323 W. Commons Drive.
During the fest, art lovers of all ages will be able to watch artists create works during live art demonstrations, browse art from dozens of emerging and student artists, and get hands-on in the interactive children’s art station.
Beyond the visual arts, the festival will feature two days of continual live music and a sampling of the local culinary arts scene. Entertaining street performers, lively art drawings, and the sale of colorful keepsake souvenirs — all create a family-friendly festival feel.
This year, artists will be displaying everything from oil paintings and fine photography to mixed media, mosaics, sculpture, clay ceramics, jewelry, and more. After more than two decades, this festival has become a popular and proven showcase for some of the best artistic talent nationwide who venture to Northwest Florida to compete for more than $12,000 in cash prizes.
This year’s festival will include more than 100 artists. (Photo courtesy of the MKAF)
The judging panel includes Reanna Watson, academy director for the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, Alabama, and Sheri O. Sanderson, who has served at LeMoyne Arts gallery since 2008 and was instrumental in developing the famed Chain of Parks Art Festival. These judges will award artist prizes in the juried and collaborative art categories.
On Saturday, festivalgoers are invited to vote for the “People’s Choice” Artist Award by casting a ballot located at the Main Festival Entrance.
Featured guest artist
Look for live, fiery blacksmith demonstrations by master craftsman David Sandlin to the right of the Dugas Pavilion stage. With decades of experience gained from working across various countries and cultures, Sandlin now teaches woodshop and blacksmithing, and also offers apprenticeships.
A celebration of music
This year’s live entertainment lineup expands to seven live music performances and — new this year — live theater scenes. Saturday (10-11:30 a.m.) Jones & Company deliver jazz, soul, and world music, then rock, blues, dance, and original music by Tillman & Taff (noon-2 p.m.), followed by Stage Crafters Community Theatre company members who will perform scenes from their upcoming fall musical production of “A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder.”
(2:15-2:45 p.m.) Rounding out the day is Stormfolk with their folk, bluegrass, rock and pop sounds.
On Sunday, Now & Then(10-11 a.m.) opens the festival with folk tunes that allow them to improvise their acoustic fiddle and guitar, followed by Roman Street Trio (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) — an instrumental band specializing in improvisational fusion of classical, gypsy, contemporary jazz and Latin vibes. Sinfonia Youth Orchestra (1:45-2:15 p.m.) performs folk, holiday seasonal, and classic favorites and Nashville duo Luke & Kaylee(2:30-4 p.m.) closes out the festival with their country music.
The art of dining
The festival has expanded its culinary arts experience, too. Cuisine on the Green will serve up samplings of Venezuelan cuisine from La Chama Venez, gourmet burgers, chicken and fish sandwiches from Fuel Burgers, Latin vegan cuisine from That Rican Vegan, Texas smoked BBQ from Red Neck Riviera Smokers, plus Italian ice and gelato from Repicci’s of the Panhandle and classic savory snacks from PJ’s Popcorn & Pork Rinds. Foodies can toast the arts with select wine, beer, and fresh-crafted Bloody Mary cocktails in the Beer & Wine Garden.
More festival amenities
Buy festival merchandise —This year’s official festival guide, poster, and t-shirt feature the coastal-inspired artwork of Santa Rosa Beach-based artist Kelly Pierre. Signed and numbered poster prints and souvenir t-shirts featuring Pierre’s vibrant, whimsical oil on canvas entitled “Transcendent” — that beautifully evokes the spirit of Florida living — will be available for sale in the Souvenir Tent.
Win art! — Be sure to also visit the Art Drawing Tent and enter the charity benefit drawing for chances to win a range of original artwork generously donated by the festival artists. The drawing will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, but you do not need to be present to win.
Get the guide — A complimentary four-color festival guide containing a roster of all artists, a map of the festival site, the entertainment lineup, a list of food & beverage vendors, and other helpful hints on how to navigate through the festival is available at the entrance.
Free parking/shuttle —Park for free at Destin High School located adjacent to the Cultural Arts Village or at Emerald Coast Centre, located on U.S. Highway 98 near Beall’s department store, and ride the free continuous shuttle service right to the main entrance. The Cultural Arts Village is designed as an ADA-compliant venue with available handicap parking.
While the festival has free admission, donations are welcome. Proceeds benefit Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and its ArtsReach initiatives serving local K-12 students, individuals with disabilities, and active-duty military and veterans throughout Northwest Florida and the Southeast.
For more information about the Festival of the Arts, visit www.MKAF.org or call (850) 650-2226.
Starting August 24, the vaccine will be available on Wednesdays in Ft. Walton Beach—221 Hospital Drive NE and on Thursdays in Crestview—810 E. James Lee Blvd. from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. The vaccine will be given in the Immunizations Office.
High-risk groups include:
• People who have been identified by public health officials as a contact of someone with monkeypox
• People who know one of their sexual partners in the past two weeks has been diagnosed with monkeypox
• People who had multiple sexual partners in the past two weeks in an area with known monkeypox
• Laboratory workers who perform diagnostic testing for monkeypox and members of designated health care worker response teams designated by appropriate public health authorities.
Please note vaccine is limited at this time. If there are no appointments available, please check back as DOH-Okaloosa will offer new appointments as vaccine becomes available.
The hepatitis A and meningococcal disease vaccine is also available at no cost to those at high risk and may be received during the same appointment.
Human-to-human transmission generally requires prolonged, face-to-face contact, direct contact with lesion materials, or indirect contact with lesion materials through contaminated items, such as contaminated clothing.
Up-to-date information on monkeypox is available at FloridaHealth.gov. Case data for monkeypox, as well as other reportable diseases, can be found on FLHealthCharts.gov.
