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

DESTIN — The Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization will meet at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18 at the Destin City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail.

The Citizens' Advisory Committee and Technical Coordinating Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.

Agenda items include adopting project priorities; amending the Transportation Improvement Programs for right-of-way on U.S. Highway 98 and a price increase for Brooks Bridge; consideration of a sidewalk on Rocky Bayou Road, the General Planning Consultant selection committee; appointment of Northwest Florida Regional TPO members/alternates; and a CAC application.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Transportation planners set Thursday meeting