Fort Walton Beach Considering Annexing Surrounding Communities

To annex or not annex, that is the issue. As noted by some local officials, it is time to think outside the box and bring surrounding communities together for the common good. Having grown up in this area, when you think of Fort Walton Beach, you assume the areas noted by the City Council as being Fort Walton Beach. So, let's work together for make this a priority and give something to the citizens in return.





FWB revives annexation issue
Councilman: City must prove there would be benefits for residents
By DUSTY RICKETTS dustyr@nwfdailynews.com
FORT WALTON BEACH — The loss of revenue from the Amendment 1 tax reform is expected to be hard on local governments. Fort Walton Beach officials believe partnering with other cities and sharing the cost to provide services could help reduce the burden. The City Council held a workshop Tuesday evening to discuss annexation and the possibility of annexing Cinco Bayou or Mary Esther. “Amendment 1 is forcing us to more efficiently and effectively partner with our neighbors,” said City Manager Joyce Shanahan. City staffers have completed a preliminary study that showed the millage rates and property tax revenues generated for Fort Walton Beach, Cinco Bayou, Mary Esther, unincorporated Ocean City and Okaloosa County. Mary Esther and Cinco Bayou have lower tax rates than Fort Walton Beach. The staff will conduct a more thorough review of the cost to residents in those communities if they decided to annex into Fort Walton Beach. Shanahan said city staff will be working through the budget process for the next several months, and the more in-depth study likely wouldn’t start until September or October. She estimated it would not be ready for review until March or April of next year. Councilman Wayne Pullen said Fort Walton Beach must prove to Cinco Bayou or Mary Esther that annexing into Fort Walton Beach would be beneficial to them. The city pursued the possibility of annexing Okaloosa Island in 1996 and 2004. Both times, island residents said they did not want to be part of the city and the issue was dropped.