Just when you thought the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners couldn’t embarrass themselves any further, they’ve managed to outdo themselves once again. It’s another “hold my beer” moment — and this time, they’re coming straight for your wallet!
It wasn’t enough to double fees across the county, or to divert taxpayer dollars to build a toll booth on the Navarre Beach Bridge — a move that many residents rightly saw as a slap in the face. Now, the commissioners are preparing for yet another raid on residents’ pocketbooks. On Thursday, they’ll hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance that would require homeowners to convert from septic to sewer systems if sewer service is available in their area.
At first glance, that might sound like a good idea — cleaner water, better infrastructure, more competitive grant applications, all the usual talking points.
But dig even a little deeper, and the financial burden becomes clear.
The cost of a sewer tap-in fee can easily range from $5,000 to $15,000 — not including the cost to disconnect an existing septic system, trench the yard, or connect the home to the utility line.
An East Milton resident says he has to pay an impact fee on top of a tap fee, claiming East Milton Water System tap fees increased from $1,750 to $4,450. But those figures don’t include all the costs. To get a better snapshot of all costs involved with connections, we can use a Navarre homeowner who claims his tap fee for Holley-Navarre Water System was $6,000, but the additional costs of plumbing services, a grinder system and more put his connection around $17,000.
That’s money most families don’t have lying around, and for residents on fixed incomes, it’s devastating!
Imagine being a retiree who’s lived in the same home for decades, paid off the mortgage, and now faces a mandatory conversion costing thousands of dollars just to remain compliant with a county ordinance. For many, this could mean taking on new debt, dipping into savings, or simply being unable to afford to stay in their homes.
In supporting documentation for the county commission’s April 7 meeting, a note from County Administrator Brad Baker states, “Neighboring jurisdictions have adopted similar statutory language into their local codes of ordinances to aid the enforcement of mandatory sewer connections.”
Could such “enforcement” be compelled by not only a State of Florida agency but also Water Systems throughout the county? The water boards would greatly benefit by enforcing potential customers to connect to their systems. There’s even a Holley-Navarre Water System board member actively promoting septic-to-sewer conversions in Navarre. Code enforcement in Santa Rosa County is complaint driven, and this move puts teeth into that.
What’s worse, the county isn’t proposing to subsidize or assist those impacted. There’s no mention of grants or income-based relief — just a blanket requirement that could leave seniors, working families, and veterans struggling to make ends meet.
The commissioners love to talk about “smart growth” and “responsible development,” but the pattern is clear: their version of responsibility means draining taxpayers to fund pet projects and bureaucratic overreach. Whether it’s tolling a public bridge, hiking fees across every department, or now forcing costly infrastructure changes on homeowners, the theme remains the same — the residents of Santa Rosa County pay, and the commissioners play.
At some point, county leaders need to remember that government is supposed to serve the people — not squeeze them dry. Forcing expensive mandates on citizens without offering financial relief isn’t leadership. It’s arrogance.
Santa Rosa County taxpayers have had enough. Thursday’s public hearing is more than a chance to speak out on one ordinance — it’s an opportunity to send a clear message: stop treating the people who fund this county like your personal ATM.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Col. Craig J. Walker, USAF (Retired) first moved to Navarre in 1997. During his military career he logged over 4,000 hours in various aircraft and was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses (both with Valor), for his actions during Operation Enduring Freedom. In May 2025 he was inducted into the Air Commando Hall of Fame. He’s now retired and living in Holley By The Sea.
