SHALIMAR — Okaloosa County commissioners unanimously approved more than $12.7 million in infrastructure surtax funding on Jan. 20, advancing a State Road 85 widening project tied to the Southwest Crestview Bypass and authorizing construction of a new evidence storage facility for the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office as officials pointed to growth pressures, public safety needs and long-term fiscal efficiency.
The board approved a $10 million allocation from fiscal year 2026 Infrastructure Surtax reserves as the county’s local contribution to a Florida Department of Transportation project to widen and reconstruct State Road 85 from Live Oak Church Road to P.J. Adams Parkway. Commissioners also authorized $2,707,870 in surtax funding for design, construction, security systems and furnishings for a new sheriff’s office evidence facility in Crestview.
County leaders said both projects are necessary to keep pace with population growth, traffic demand and expanding public safety responsibilities, while avoiding increases in property or income taxes.
FDOT has designed improvements to widen State Road 85 from State Road 123 to Interstate 10 to six lanes, addressing longstanding congestion along one of Okaloosa County’s primary north-south corridors.
The portion between Live Oak Church Road and P.J. Adams Parkway, roughly one mile, is considered essential to fully realizing the benefits of the $200 million Southwest Crestview Bypass and Interstate 10 interchange projects.
Public Works Director Scott Bitterman told commissioners that without the widening, traffic congestion would continue to limit the bypass’s effectiveness, particularly for commuters traveling between Crestview, Interstate 10 and military installations.
“The bypass doesn’t give us the full benefit if Highway 85 remains constrained,” Bitterman said.
The widening project is currently listed in FDOT’s draft five-year work program for fiscal year 2028, which begins July 1, 2027. Total construction costs are estimated at $36.2 million, with FDOT requiring a $10 million local contribution for the construction phase.
County officials said approving the local match now satisfies FDOT’s funding requirements and could help accelerate the project’s timeline.
To expedite the project, Okaloosa County has already purchased one required stormwater pond site at State Road 85 and Live Oak Church Road and is negotiating with a private property owner to acquire the second stormwater management site.
Once secured, the county plans to donate the stormwater facilities to FDOT in addition to providing the cash contribution.
The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners previously approved the project as part of its 2026 state legislative agenda. County staff said the U.S. Air Force has also expressed strong support for widening State Road 85, citing the roadway’s importance to meeting mission requirements at nearby installations.
The Infrastructure Surtax Advisory Committee recommended approval of the $10 million allocation at its Jan. 7 meeting.
Earlier in the meeting, commissioners received the county’s annual infrastructure surtax report, which showed strong revenue growth and long-term financial sustainability.
Infrastructure Surtax Advisory Board Chairman Matt Turpin reported that $22.65 million was collected in fiscal year 2025 alone, bringing total collections since inception to more than $136.5 million. Interest earnings totaled $1.9 million in fiscal year 2025 and nearly $6 million overall.
Of the total collected, approximately $62 million has been spent on projects to date. As of fiscal year 2025, 57 surtax projects are underway, including 15 completed projects, seven under construction and nine pending construction.
Turpin said the county has sufficient funding to complete all the projects promised initially while continuing to add new ones.
County officials noted that roughly one-third of surtax revenue is paid by tourists annually, with tourism accounting for more than 50% of surtax collections during peak seasons.
Commissioners emphasized that the surtax, a sales tax, allows the county to fund major infrastructure projects without relying on property taxes or a state income tax.
The board also unanimously approved a $2,707,870 allocation from fiscal year 2026 surtax reserves for the construction of a new Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office evidence facility in Crestview.
Sheriff Eric Aden told commissioners the sheriff’s office currently stores more than 129,000 pieces of evidence and processes an average of more than 14,400 items of personal property each year, far exceeding the capacity of its existing evidence facility in Shalimar.
“As the county grows, so does the volume and complexity of evidence we are required to manage,” Aden said. “We are currently overwhelmed.”
The proposed project includes a 3,000-square-foot evidence building with 20-foot ceilings designed for vertical storage, along with a 7,000-square-foot secure vehicle evidence lot.
The facility will be built on county-owned land in the north end of Okaloosa County.
Aden said the new facility is necessary to comply with increasingly strict state and federal evidence handling standards, some of which require evidence retention for decades. Failure to properly store evidence could jeopardize prosecutions, he said.
In addition to serving sheriff’s office operations, the facility will store evidence for local, state and federal partner agencies. The new Crestview location will also allow residents in northern Okaloosa County to retrieve recovered property without having to travel to Shalimar.
Commissioners said the project will improve efficiency for crime scene technicians, reduce travel time, and improve the quality of life for staff who respond to investigations at all hours.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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