Santa Rosa County has released a capital funding report for Tourist Development Tax dollars, and data shows that since 2018 more than 95% has been or is being utilized for projects in South County. Less than 5% was spent in North Santa Rosa County, per the May 2022 report.
Tourist Development Tax revenues are generated by overnight stays in the county, and, pursuant to state statutes, there are tight restrictions on how that capital funding may be expended by counties.
That report shows that since 2018 nearly $2.25 million of the $2.41 million allocated for TDT capital projects was or will be utilized in the south end of the county.
Those 53 projects include but are not limited to: $200,000 for new Navarre Beach shower stations, $194,000 for Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, funding for Fourth of July fireworks at Navarre Beach, $14,155 toward future outdoor ADA musical equipment at Navarre Park, and hundreds of thousands for median maintenance. Other expenditures included re-roofing and upgrading electrical systems at beach pavilions.
Additionally, a total of four projects totaling $114,773.33 were funded outside South Santa Rosa County: Arcadia Mills Archeological Site received $11,400, West Florida Railroad Museum Restoration received $33,333.33, the Santa Rosa County Agriplex Expansion received $40,000, and the Milton/Bagdad Connector was allocated $70,000.
