Deadline possible for retroactive $250 beach lease fee cap
Deadline possible for retroactive $250 beach lease fee cap
Next week Santa Rosa County Commissioners could set a November 1 deadline for 400 beach leaseholders who have yet to amend their leases to take advantage of a retroactive $250 lease fee cap. Commissioners made the $250 cap retroactive to November 1, 2014, but so far only 1,000 of the 1,400 beach leases have been amended. County Attorney Roy Andrews … read more
Rep. Mike Hill under investigation for homestead exemption fraud
Rep. Mike Hill under investigation for homestead exemption fraud
Florida House District 2 Representative Mike Hill is under investigation for homestead exemption fraud. The Escambia County Property Apppraiser Chris Jones’ Office this morning confirmed an “active” investigation is underway following a complaint filed last week. “We have not finished that investigation,” said Jones, who was unable to immediately release his office’s correspondence with Hill … read more
Gulf Power pursues rate increase
Gulf Power pursues rate increase
Gulf Power is taking required steps toward increasing customer prices. In an August 16 press release the utility announced it notified the Florida Public Service Commission that it may seek a hike approval to raise the base rates for electricity. ““As we continue to secure future energy needs for our customers, we have to make … read more
Broxson dominates Senate race fundraising
Broxson dominates Senate race fundraising
Leading into the final stretch toward the August 30 Republican primary, the latest financial reports show Florida Senate District 1 candidate Doug Broxson’s campaign has raised more than double that of fellow Republican, Mike Hill. Broxson holds a commanding lead with $368,677.53 compared to Hill’s $182,142.81. The candidates’ July 30 – August 5 reports to the … read more
Farewell to local Pearl Harbor survivor
Farewell to local Pearl Harbor survivor
Our area lost a beloved WWII hero last week. Former Navy Signalman striker Myron Jay Carraway, 94, passed away August 11. Carraway, who had been a member of St. Sylvester Church in Navarre in recent years during his residency at The Beacon, survived the infamous Pearl Harbor attack in 1941 while serving aboard the U.S.S. Hulbert. He … read more
EDITORIAL: Why are Escambia developers funding push for Santa Rosa tax?
EDITORIAL: Why are Escambia developers funding push for Santa Rosa tax?
As planned, Santa Rosa County Commissioners are making a third attempt to get voters to support a local option sales tax (LOST) to fund a new courthouse they’ve proposed for downtown Milton. Additionally, on this year’s ballot, the board added a second referendum for a one-half cent LOST to fund unspecified “infrastructure” improvements. And it’s … read more
EDITORIAL: Tourism changes have been successful
EDITORIAL: Tourism changes have been successful
Under the leadership of Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Director Julie Morgan, tourism has flourished. The latest numbers from June 2016 show bed tax revenues are on par to again surpass the $2 million mark this fiscal year. That’s up from $1.3 million for FY 2013, before an additional one percent bed tax collected … read more
County halts beach RV park
County halts beach RV park
Santa Rosa County Commissioners this week did not approve a lease amendment request to build an RV park on Navarre Beach. The board is also taking steps to improve the notification process when beach lease amendments are sought. According to an August 4 memo from county staff to commissioners, developer Ron Ward made the lease … read more
Navarre man hit by vehicle, killed
Navarre man hit by vehicle, killed
A Navarre man was killed on Esplanade Street in Navarre late Wednesday night when a woman pulled out of a driveway and struck the man with her vehicle. According to the Florida Highway Patrol accident report, Trena Strong, 49, of Navarre was backing out of a driveway at a residence at the 1900 block of … read more
Islanders face $3.2M for renourishment
Islanders face $3.2M for renourishment
Despite at least two Santa Rosa County Commissioners voicing opposition to Navarre Beach leaseholders having to pay a portion of the recently completed roughly $15.5 million beach renourishment project, an August 23 public hearing has been scheduled for that purpose. Earlier this year Florida legislators allocated an extra $5.6 million for the project for which … read more
