Board of County Commissioners · Tuesday, January 13, 2026 · 1:00 PM · DeFuniak Springs BCC Boardroom, 571 US Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433
County Commission
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners meeting on January 13, 2026 has 16 items that affect Santa Rosa Beach (15 countywide), including Expenditure Approval List (EAL), Amendment No. 1 to with City of DeFuniak Springs for Solid Waste Disposal and Amendment No. 1 to 2025-2026 Agreement with Coastal Seniors of South Walton, Inc..
Why it matters
Items marked countywide apply to all of Walton County, including Santa Rosa Beach.
What happened
Development & zoning1 item
Walton Forever Land Acquisition Program - Second and Final Reading
Passed 4–0 · unanimousNo. 2026-01 adopted via . Program established to acquire and manage conservation on agricultural properties through a competitive procurement process with a not-for-profit entity. Funding responsibilities to be determined through future budget processes. Supermajority vote required for future changes.
Budget & taxes4 items
Expenditure Approval List (EAL)
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved on . Total expenditures of $74,608,912.70 across multiple county funds including General Fund, Public Works, Building Department, utilities, housing, tourism, and others.
- $74,608,912.70 · Total EAL expenditures
Walton County Tourist Development Tax revenues for purchase of property at 115 Sandy Lane, Santa Rosa Beach
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved on via 2026-02 to authorize expenditure of Tourist Development Tax revenues for property purchase.
Where: 115 Sandy Lane, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (parcel #17-3S-19-25000-008-0000)
2026 BlueMedicare Group Master Agreement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved on for Group Medicare Plan(s) for Covered Retirees and Covered Dependents effective January 1, 2026.
2026 Nationwide 457(b) Plan Adoption Agreement
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved on to continue service for employees on a 457(b) Plan.
Roads & infrastructure1 item
Authorization to execute documents for traffic signal installation and maintenance transfer
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved on via 2026-03 to authorize County Engineer to execute reports, forms, and documents with Florida Department of Transportation related to Exhibits A, B, C and Final Acceptance of Traffic Signal Installation(s) and Transfer of Maintenance agreement.
Utilities2 items
Amendment No. 1 to with City of DeFuniak Springs for Solid Waste Disposal
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved on .
Funding Agreement No. 25-1985 with South Walton Utility Company for water and sewer relocations
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved on providing reimbursement to the County for water and sewer relocations associated with Driftwood and Ellis Roadway Improvements Project.
- $192,910.35 · Reimbursement for water and sewer relocations
Parks1 item
Eagle Springs Golf and Recreation Center day rate increase
Passed 2–1 · split2026-04 adopted to raise day rates at Eagle Springs Golf and Recreation Center with effective date of February 1, 2026. A $3.00 daily rate increase per round was approved. Commissioner Glidewell opposed the increase in the middle of the budget year; Commissioners Curry and Johns supported it.
Other7 items
Amendment No. 1 to 2025-2026 Agreement with Coastal Seniors of South Walton, Inc.
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved on .
Florida Library Delivery Service Participation Agreement
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved on to authorize Library Director to sign agreement for shipping of interlibrary loan materials.
2026-01 opposing offshore oil and gas leasing
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved on . Commissioner Johns authorized to sign opposing inclusion of any new offshore oil and gas leasing off the coast of Florida and supporting preservation of Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range.
Event Grant Program for 2027
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved as presented and endorsed by Tourist Development Council. Program includes amendments with maximum of $25,000 for signature events and $10,000 for experience events such as Bloody Mary and Gumbo festivals.
- $25,000 · Maximum for signature events
- $10,000 · Maximum for experience events
Walton County Community Event Sponsorship Program for 2027
Passed 4–0 · unanimousApproved as presented and endorsed by Tourist Development Council. New program for smaller community events with one-day events receiving up to $2,500 and multi-day events up to $5,000.
- $2,500 · Maximum for one-day community events
- $5,000 · Maximum for multi-day community events
Funding for 2026 Summit on the Circle event in DeFuniak Springs
FailedMotion failed due to lack of a second. Commissioner Glidewell initially seconded but Commissioner Curry withdrew his second. Board noted the request did not meet program requirements due to timeliness.
- $5,000 · Requested funding for Summit on the Circle event
Short-Term Rental
Passed 4–0 · unanimousMotion approved to have staff conduct a to discuss the Short-Term Rental (STR) process.
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