Freeport, FL
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The City of Freeport held its final public budget hearing on September 15, 2026, to adopt the 2026-2027 fiscal year budget. The council approved a millage rate of 4.7302 mills, which is 3.20% higher than the rollback rate, and adopted a total budget of $114,239,860.00. Both votes passed unanimously with no public comment.
The Freeport City Council held its first public hearing on the 2026–2027 budget on September 9, 2026. City Attorney Adkinson announced a tentative millage rate of 4.7302 mills, which exceeds the rollback rate of 4.5834 mills by 3.20%. The council approved the tentative millage rate and a tentative budget of $114,239,860.00 by unanimous vote. The council also scheduled the final budget hearing for September 15, 2026, at 5:01 PM. No public comments were received.
The Freeport City Council met on September 8, 2026, and approved multiple items on the consent agenda including budget amendments for decorative lighting and a storage building for Christmas decorations. The council also approved several staff proposals: a $36,500 scope of services for improvements at the Blueberry Road and State Road 20 intersection, a $58,490 scope of services for revisions to the Living History Park stormwater design, and a $445,672 insurance renewal. The council approved the 2027 meeting schedule and holiday calendar, authorized a Trunk or Treat event for October 24, approved starting a kickball league, and funded a $4,000 HVAC certification class for employee William Canaday. Councilwoman Brannon added two items: requesting that the city prohibit Flock cameras on city streets and asking staff to explore a dedicated left-turn light at the Business 331 and Highway 20 intersection. The council also decided to turn off City Hall's under-awning lights on an event-by-event basis and to use white lighting on City Hall when no events are scheduled.
The City of Freeport held a budget workshop on August 18, 2026, where Finance Director Bruce Simmons presented updates on the city's fiscal planning. Council discussed several budget adjustments, including increased expenses for road repairs and maintenance (up $100,000), Highway 20 resurfacing (estimate increased from $200,000 to $575,900), Highway 20 turn lanes ($750,000 each, potentially $875,000), batting cages in Parks (up $10,000), and a monitoring well for the Water Department ($180,000). Staff also reviewed the employee compensation package, including a defined contribution increase of $65 per month per employee (up 57% since fiscal year 2022–2023) and recommended a 3% flat salary increase to normalize the prior year's larger increases. The council noted that the first budget hearing is scheduled for September 9th and the final hearing for September 15th, and discussed advertising the hearings in the Northwest Florida Daily News to allow time for budget adjustments if needed.
The City of Freeport council met on August 11, 2026, to address budget matters, infrastructure projects, and routine city business. The main focus was a discussion of turn lanes on Highway 20, which the city is considering funding itself because the state Department of Transportation cannot fit them into the current resurfacing project due to right-of-way constraints and design conflicts. The council approved the third budget workshop for August 18, set a tentative millage rate of 4.7302, switched disability insurance to Humana, approved several equipment and renovation purchases, and appointed a new planning board member. Two council members were absent.
The City Council held a budget workshop on August 3, 2026, to discuss departmental projects, grant funding, staffing needs, and compensation. Finance Director Bruce Simmons presented updates on continuing and upcoming projects across all departments, along with available grant funds. The Council approved a 3% salary increase for employees and set defined contribution benefits at $1,365 per employee for insurance purposes. Discussion took place regarding insurance provider options, with final decisions to be made at the next Council meeting. The Council agreed to schedule a third budget workshop to finalize the budget before the first public hearing.
The Freeport City Council met on July 23, 2026, to swear in newly elected council members Elizabeth Haffner and Eddie Farris, approve routine consent agenda items, and discuss several new business matters. The council approved renewal of the Liberty Partners legislative services contract, set budget hearing dates for September 2 and 15, authorized placement of a Narcan rescue box at the Four-Mile Boat Ramp, approved moving forward with the Winners Circle Sidewalk Extension project design, funded the Mayor's attendance at the Opportunity Florida Conference, and initiated discussions on Highway 20 turning lanes, revamping city entrance signs, and e-bike safety regulations.
The City of Freeport held a budget workshop on July 14, 2026, to discuss the fiscal year budget amid uncertainty from a Property Tax Exemption ballot measure. Finance Director Bruce Simmons presented a Capital Improvement Plan and reported that all departments are projected to be under budget. The council decided to keep the millage rate the same, removed the yearly allocation to the Walton County Economic Development Alliance from future budgets, set aside funds for city lighting, and agreed to keep salary and benefits at current levels pending further discussion at another workshop.
The City of Freeport City Council held a regular meeting on July 14, 2026. The council approved a clean 2025 audit report showing strong financial performance with increased property tax revenues. They voted to adopt a data center prohibition ordinance, approved an air conditioning unit replacement at the parks concession stand for $9,123, renewed a labor contract with the Walton County Sheriff's Office, approved events including a baseball tournament and high school homecoming parade, and tabled an air conditioning purchase for the wastewater treatment plant pending clarification of bids. The council also gave staff direction to reject expensive non-standard design elements like brick pavers for city infrastructure, directed staff to explore connecting sidewalks at the sports complex to an existing path, and instructed staff to contact the Florida Department of Transportation about adding turning lanes during the planned Highway 20 resurfacing project.
The City of Freeport held its regular council meeting on June 25, 2026, with four of five council members present. The council approved the consent agenda, which included bills, budget amendments, and financial reports. The city approved an SRF loan agreement for lead study work with loan payments of $54,060.00, a budget amendment and payment of $8,117.00 for Community Center insurance, insurance renewal forms, and scheduled two budget workshops for July 14 and August 3. The council held first reading of a Data Center Prohibition Ordinance to prevent large data centers from locating in the city. The Parks Department received approval for three fee waivers for community organizations using city facilities. The council also approved three general services agreements with engineering firms for infrastructure projects and approved a revision to the Alaqua Preserve development plan to increase unit density from 42 to 44 units and move utilities underground.
The Freeport City Council met on June 9, 2026, and approved several key items including a Bayview Planned Development Plan with conditions for a residential and commercial project on 27.75 acres, electrical repairs to a lift station at Freeport Elementary School costing $21,204.56, and Option 2 for the Marquis Way West Bridge design (a precast bridge with pedestrian facilities). The council also approved scope of services contracts with Anchor CEI for both a Pedestrian Master Plan ($206,180 total, funded by a $168,000 grant plus $38,180 in city funds) and a Comprehensive Plan Update ($76,570). The council denied an annexation request for the Dantin-Bruce property due to concerns about creating an enclave outside city boundaries, consistent with past decisions. Four council members were present; two were absent.
The Freeport City Council held a regular meeting on May 28, 2026, where it approved several items including a consent agenda covering bills and prior minutes, an $8,000 change order for pilot hole cuttings on a water tower and well project, a $640.70 change order for sewer expansion grommets, a $4,565.04 budget amendment for disposed security cameras, approval for Little League to build scorekeeper standards at parks, the 4th of July parade, adoption of a parks ordinance regulating commercial activities, rezoning 31 Azalea Drive from medium density residential to residential commercial for an office complex, travel expenses for planning staff to attend an APA conference, Phase 2 of the city grounds lighting project for $61,350, and directed staff to draft an ordinance banning data centers and facilities that consume excessive electricity and water. The council also amended ordinances to prohibit smoking or vaping except in designated areas and to ban vehicles from park greens, and authorized the city manager and mayor to sign submerged land easements with the state.
The Freeport City Council met on May 12, 2026, to approve routine bills and minutes, establish a fee waiver process, authorize a point-of-sale system for the community pool, approve two wastewater expansion projects totaling over $283,000, authorize bidding for a $1.2 million sidewalk extension, adjust property insurance costs, approve recreational events, add engineering firms to the city's consultant roster, and discuss a future regional sports complex. The council also declined a request to change utility disconnection policy for a resident involved in a property dispute.
The Freeport City Council met on February 26, 2026, and approved several infrastructure and maintenance projects. The council authorized a $84,000 contract with Dewberry Engineers for redesign services on the SR-20 sewer extension, which will now route through city-owned property instead of requiring easements, saving an estimated $950,000 to $1 million in construction costs. They approved a $62,962.57 upgrade to the electrical line on Black Creek Lodge Road by CHELCO, funded by a DEP grant, and granted the associated right-of-way easement. A $2,500 increase was approved for site clearing work on Marquis Way East to prepare for soil testing. The council also approved a $8,450 bid from Odis Brown for an air conditioning unit replacement at the Water Department. Additionally, the council heard updates on the Memorial Park lighting project, the Carr Property road corridor proposal, and a parks pool repair completion.
The Freeport City Council met on January 22, 2026, and approved several routine and substantive items. The consent agenda—covering bills, a budget amendment for heat pump and community center work at LaGrange Road, and financial reports—passed unanimously. The council then voted to remove the Chelco payment kiosk from City Hall and have Chelco provide a drop box instead, to move the Community Center to its own accounting line for better budget tracking, to approve a $191,053 change order for deep foundation support on a wagon wheel well project, and to approve a related $11,000 budget amendment. The council also approved lowering the Community Center's minimum rental duration from 4 hours to 2 hours to accommodate shorter events. A lengthy discussion ensued about hosting a Christmas Dinner for the Florida League of Cities, with legal guidance that the city can proceed with no formal vote. A pool repair project was reported to be nearing completion.
Summaries are AI-generated; each meeting links its original documents · Independent, not an official city site · Source · Updated Sep 28, 2026 · Privacy · Terms