On behalf of the Funding Santa Rosa’s Future committee, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the residents who took the time to learn about the half-cent Local Option Sales Tax renewal and ultimately voted FOR continuing this important investment in our community.
Your support sends a clear message: Santa Rosa County’s future matters, and we are willing to work together to protect and strengthen the place we call home.
When we organized Funding Santa Rosa’s Future, our purpose was simple: to help educate our friends and neighbors about how continuing the half-cent sales tax would benefit our county. We wanted voters to understand that this isn’t simply another tax. It is an investment in the roads we travel, the public safety professionals who protect us, the parks our families enjoy, and the natural resources that make Santa Rosa County such a special place to live.
One of the most important advantages of the half-cent sales tax is that the responsibility doesn’t fall entirely on local residents. Everyone who shops in Santa Rosa County contributes, including visitors and tourists who come here to enjoy our beaches, businesses, restaurants and communities. Think of it this way: everyone who spends money here helps share the cost of improving the place we all enjoy. That means visitors help contribute toward road and drainage improvements, public safety equipment and other community projects without placing the entire burden on local property owners. It is a practical way to bring in revenue from a broader base while investing in the needs of a growing county.
The renewed funding will help address important road and drainage projects, improve parks and recreational opportunities, and support the equipment and resources our first responders need to serve us.
Of all these investments, I believe supporting our first responders is especially important. Our law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency management personnel and other public safety professionals are there for us during some of life’s most difficult moments. They need dependable vehicles, fire apparatus, emergency response equipment and critical resources to do their jobs safely and effectively.
Because of voter support, this renewal will bring a consolidated 911 dispatch center to fruition and reduce response times during emergencies, when every second matters. When an emergency happens, we depend on these men and women to be ready. Investing in the equipment and resources they need is an investment in the safety of every family in Santa Rosa County.
This vote was about looking ahead. It was about recognizing that responsible growth requires planning, preparation and a commitment to maintaining the quality of life we value.
I am grateful to everyone who supported this effort, shared information with neighbors, encouraged conversations and helped make sure voters understood what was at stake. A community is strongest when people come together around a shared goal.
The voters of Santa Rosa County have wisely chosen to continue investing in our future. That is something worth celebrating!
Thank you for believing in our community, for supporting the people who keep us safe, and for recognizing that the responsibility and benefits of building a stronger Santa Rosa County can be shared by everyone who spends time here.
Together, we are helping preserve what makes Santa Rosa County special while preparing it for generations to come.
With sincere appreciation,
Lori Newcomer, Chairwoman
Funding Santa Rosa’s Future
