Santa Rosa County property owners in mid-August could see multiple new taxes on their annual property tax bills if county commissioners move forward with two Municipal Service Taxing Units (MSTUs). The board is also considering a Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU), which would be levied on property owners in 27 neighborhoods.
The effort to implement the new taxes comes after Santa Rosa County voters last fall rejected the county’s effort to double the Local Option Sales Tax for a period of 15 years. Although that referendum failed at the ballot box, the existing half-cent LOST remains in effect through the end of 2026.
Navarre resident Harlan Hall, who owns a home in Holley By The Sea, believes it was a poor decision for the county to try to double the LOST for 15 years after a similar referendum failed in 2019. “We voters have repeatedly sent a clear message to the board. But instead of listening to us, we’re seeing the county continue to try to increase our taxes anyway.”
Hall also expressed frustration with the board reallocating $300,000 of $1.5 million appropriated toward the future new Navarre Beach Bridge project in order to reinstate tolls on the existing span. “They’re planning tolls to get on the beach. Now they also want to add to our annual property tax TRIM bill. The taxing and spending needs to stop.”
If approved, this year’s Truth in Millage or TRIM notices would include the MSTUs for public safety and transportation, which would be funded through the board approving the annual adoption of a resolution levying an ad valorem tax millage not in excess of ten mills on the dollar of assessed value.
Additionally, the MSBU for stormwater would be levied on property owners of the following neighborhoods:
- Ashmore Place
- Autumn Run North – Phase I
- Avalon Estates
- Avalon Park – Replat 2
- Bell Lane
- Chantilly Woods
- Charterwoods
- Copperfield
- Copperfield – Phase 2
- Deer Creek Farms
- Heather Oaks
- Hunter’s Ridge
- Jolene
- Laurelwood
- Monarch Acres
- Monitcello Estates
- Morgan Ridge – Phase 2
- North Harbor
- Redland Estates
- Rolling Green Estates
- Sheridan Woods
- Sundial Estates – Phase 1
- Terra Bella
- The Groves at Chantilly
- Timber Breek – Phase 4
- Twelve Oaks Plantation
- Whisper Creek – Phase I
District 1 Commissioner Bobby Burkett said “I’m not gonna be well liked with anybody…but that’s ok. I’m a big boy. The people (in November 2025) had the opportunity to give us the funds to update our infrastructure with a sales tax. They overwhelmingly said no we don’t need it. So that tells me they that the people are ok with the infrastructure the way it is…I don’t think we need to put that on the backs of our property owners.”
District 3 Commissioner Rhett Rowell expressed concern the new property tax assessments could impact voter support for LOST renewal. “That’s my biggest concern at this point. When were’e dealing with any kind of funding mechanism we have to be careful with that.”
“I think we pay enough property taxes,” said Milton resident Jerry Couey.
The related public hearings will take place during Thursday’s regular county commission meeting, which will take place at 8:30 a.m. at the County Administrative Complex, located at 6495 Caroline Street in Milton.
To reach commissioners, call 850-983-1877 or email:
- district1@santarosa.fl.gov
- district2@santarosa.fl.gov
- district3@santarosa.fl.gov
- district4@santarosa.fl.gov
- district5@santarosa.fl.gov
