An agreement between the city of Crestview and the Okaloosa County Commission moved forward on Aug. 18 that will split animal control and sheltering costs evenly between the two parties, expanding a county program that officials have described for months as the lower-cost option.

Okaloosa County commissioners voted unanimously on Aug. 4 to spend $600,000 in infrastructure surtax funds on startup costs for a county-run animal control operation after a private shelter that has done the work for more than 20 years rejected the county’s final offer.

From Crestview to Destin, Okaloosa leaders are preparing for significant budget cuts after the Florida Legislature voted to send a property tax exemption proposal to voters this November, a measure they say will drain millions from municipal wallets and shift finical decision making away from communities they represent.

A proposed cleaning and staining project for sidewalks along Main Street in Crestview has been scrapped following discussion at a recent Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency meeting.

The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners voted March 24 to ban red-light cameras and speed enforcement cameras from county-owned rights of way and county-maintained roads, citing due process concerns raised by a recent Florida court ruling.