Election night saw some taxes pass, others fail, and a close race for school board reach a months-late decision in Okaloosa County.
Jerry Buckman defeated JD Peacock in a closely contested race. He defeated the former Okaloosa County Clerk of Court 34,819 (51.7%) to 32,485. Buckman has promised to promote an “America First” agenda from the school board dais once he is sworn in and takes the seat his opponent held in 2022, Dr. Lamar White. Buckman also ran a close race against White in 2022, falling just short of victory.
Okaloosa County’s half-cent sales taxes also passed. The ½ cent for Okaloosa will go to fund infrastructure projects around the county – like the Southwest Crestview Bypass – which leverage half cent taxes to get more than $200 Million in federal, state and BP Oil Spill money to build.
Walton County passed a half-mil of property tax by a margin of 4-1. That measure will raise an additional $18 million per year for local schools infrastructure needs.
In statewide races, Okaloosa and Walton County voters pushed Republican candidates over the line – delivering huge countywide majorities for Republican Senate incumbent Ashley Moody, gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, and US Congressman Jimmy Patronis. Walton voted the Republican ticket roughly 3:1, while Okaloosa turned in a 2:1 vote margin for the GOP.
Okaloosa and Walton County voters turned in ballots that roughly mirrored the results at a statewide level for constitutional amendment 3, which will increase homestead property exemptions significantly starting in two months. 2027 will open with a $150,000 property tax exemption for all homesteaded properties – and increase another $100,000 for 2028
Amendment 3 passed with 62% of votes statewide. Okaloosa County voters voiced strong support for the measure, with 51,834 people voting in favor of the homestead exemption increase, while 23,268 voted against it.
All 52 precincts in Okaloosa County have counted their ballots. Mid Bay News will continue to report throughout the week with reactions from local officials.
Meredith McCalmon contributed to this report.
