District 3 Commissioner Rhett Rowell, right, presenting the 2025 Conservation Hall of Fame award to Lewie Joe Smith during the Feb. 5 Blackwater Soil and Water Conservation District’s Annual Awards Banquet. Photo courtesy Jeff Snow.
Santa Rosa County District 3 Commissioner Rhett Rowell on Tuesday asked fellow commissioners to allocate a portion of future local option sales tax (LOST) revenues toward farmland conservation. However, his proposal failed by a 4-1 vote after other commissioners took no action, choosing instead to delay further discussions on the matter.
The existing half-cent LOST expires at the end of this year, and on this November’s ballots citizens are expected to vote on whether or not they support its renewal. The current allocation of LOST is 60% toward public safety, 30% toward infrastructure and 10% toward quality of life (recreation) projects.
Rowell proposed the county allocate a “sliver” of the revenues toward farmland conservation, holding back from suggesting a particular percentage of the funds to be designated.
Commissioner Bobby Burkett said he’d like more information on the matter and suggested delaying a vote on the issue.
But Rowell said there is “zero time” to wait and pushed forward with the motion.
Back during a Jan. 20 meeting, Rowell said:
“It comes down to land. The soil in the north end of the county is the best soil on Earth. I feel we not only have an opportunity to protect it, I feel like we have an obligation to protect it,” He went on to point out how the agricultural industry contributes “greatly” to Santa Rosa County’s economy, providing 21% of the county’s jobs, nearly 10,000, on 750 farms.”
Commission Chairman Colten Wright called Rowell’s proposal a “big ask” and went on to state, “Commissioner Smith gets beat up all the time for saying ‘Roads Before Development,’ and they’re saying he didn’t do enough.”
District 2 Commissioner Kerry Smith said he’d like to know the percentage of LOST Rowell would like to see allocated toward land conservation.
District 1 Commissioner Bobby Burkett said he wanted more information, referring to it as a “blank check” and suggesting the board wait a month to discuss it further.
Citizens during today’s public forum expressed support for Rowell’s proposal.
“Mr. Rowell, I want to thank you. There are a lot of people who want to keep the country, country…we are wanting our farmland protected,” said Cindy Smith of Pace, “The building is a lot…feels like it’s being shoved down our throat…if we don’t put a stop to this, we’re all gonna be living in the city.”
Commissioners will convene Tuesday, Feb. 17 for a fiscal year 2027 strategic planning workshop, and the subject is expected to be brought up again then. That workshop will take place at 1 p.m. at the Commission’s board room, located at 6495 Caroline Street in Milton.
