The county s budget In 2014, when I first became a commissioner, had a reserve of $6.5 million.This fiscal year, we hope to have a reserve of 15 million dollars. This has been an intentional effort by a fiscally conservative Board of County Commissioners.
We watched our neighboring county need a tremendous reserve to address the devastation of Hurricane Michael. This past summer, Okaloosa County was faced with a significant budget deficit due to the economic downturn created when businesses were forced to shutter due to COVID-19. Okaloosa County alone was faced with an estimated $7 million deficit in our general fund.
Fortunately, close coordination with state and federal agencies enabled Okaloosa and other local governments across the country to utilize a portion of the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) money to offset losses incurred in response to the virus.
Multiple fire departments responded on Sunday to a sailboat fire in the Santa Rosa Sound.
The fire began early Sunday in the water behind Clipper Cove town homes on Okaloosa Island, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff s Office.
Someone lives on the sailboat, but was not aboard at the time of the fire. The boat was not docked, but moored to a seawall near the town house complex.
There were no injuries, according to OCSO officials.
Firefighters from Fort Walton Beach Fire Department and Destin Fire Rescue assisted Okaloosa Island Firefighters. The Coast Guard, OCSO and Okaloosa EMS also responded to the scene.
CRESTVIEW Construction of the Foy Shaw Parkway at Bob Sikes Airport (CEW) will be completed in March, Okaloosa County Airports Director Tracy Stage said Friday.
Named after a former Crestview mayor and prominent businessman, the two-lane, 0.8-mile road runs between the intersection of U.S. Highway 90 and Cavalier Drive and the intersection of John Givens Road and Skyline Drive.
Following the end of construction will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony, at which a new entrance sign will be unveiled.
“It will be a substantial monument to signify that the parkway will be the new south industrial access route to Bob Sikes Airport,” Stage said.