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Editor’s Note: this story was first published October 30, 2024.
Valparaiso is in financial trouble, and they can NOT continue to tax their way out of it.
The current City Commission is doing a lot of great things to raise tax revenue without raising taxes (re-zoning efforts, Okaloosa Gas HQ, revitalization of commercial opportunities, etc.), but it’ll not be enough. They inherited an absolute mess. Recently, the City of Valparaiso disclosed that they are considering buying land from Eglin AFB as a possible Hail Mary to solve their budgetary issues. Still, it feels like it is just kicking the can down the road and may not even happen.
I am in a unique position. I am one of the few in the area who own property in Valparaiso, Bluewater Bay, and Niceville. I’ve experienced firsthand the unique qualities of each area, and I have seen and felt how all three operate as one community much of the time. However, the financial struggles of Valparaiso, despite having the highest taxes of the three jurisdictions, highlight a need for change. Niceville has already subsidized Valparaiso’s fire department, signaling an unsustainable resource imbalance.
That’s right, if you live in the City of Niceville – you paid for someone else’s fire protection. If you live in Valparaiso, your city government did not provide the resources to keep your lives and property safe. That’s not a slam on either city’s administration; it’s just what happened.
A merger between these communities would relieve this strain and the conflict of interest and create a future where shared services and economic prosperity benefit us all.
Instead, the City of Valparaiso wants to establish its a fire department and build out a new town hall, which is starting to feel like a stubborn stance for unnecessary independence.
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1. Economic Growth & Stability
Our area has bottled-up potential. We can be a thriving geographic area for commerce and growth, but we can only reach our full potential by strengthening the surrounding communities in a unified manner. Valparaiso’s financial struggles have led to higher taxes but fewer resources for critical investments. By merging, the combined cities would enjoy a more robust and diversified tax base, which means we can increase investment in public infrastructure, job creation, and local businesses.
A merger can also lead to more opportunities for regional development projects that attract external investors. Bluewater Bay’s status as an unincorporated community means it has untapped potential. Incorporating Bluewater into a unified city with Niceville and Valparaiso would formalize its growth trajectory and benefit the entire area for everyone in this area.
The combination of economic forces from the three areas would stabilize Valparaiso and position the newly merged city to attract larger-scale commercial projects. With combined efforts, the city could fund projects like modernizing facilities, expanding business districts, and supporting innovation hubs that keep professionals engaged locally.
2. Efficient Use of Resources
The inefficiencies of maintaining separate municipal services for three jurisdictions so closely connected geographically are becoming apparent. Valparaiso’s higher tax rates have not resulted in better services because its limited budget is stretched thin across essential needs. The reliance on Niceville to subsidize the fire department is just one example of the current fiscal imbalance. A merger would consolidate emergency services, utilities, and administrative offices under one governance structure, eliminating redundancy and allocating resources more strategically.
Pooling resources means better-managed water, waste, and electricity distribution across all three areas. Public services like law enforcement, schools, and transportation could also see improvements, as funding and decision-making would come from a larger, more stable entity that doesn’t duplicate efforts. An amalgamation also means greater accountability for the strategic and efficient use of resources, as a single municipal government could plan more effectively for long-term infrastructure needs, avoiding patchwork solutions that drain local budgets.
3. A Stronger Voice in Regional Affairs
With the Florida Panhandle growing as a hub for both residents and tourists, having a stronger voice in regional matters is crucial.
Each area is represented separately, diluting our collective influence when seeking state or federal funding for improvements. A merged city would have more political clout, ensuring we can advocate more effectively for transportation infrastructure, environmental preservation projects, and educational grants that benefit the entire region.
Additionally, larger cities typically receive more attention regarding state-funded projects. Combining forces would place us in a better position to compete for resources that otherwise might be directed to larger metropolitan areas. We could finally get the resources we need to improve roads, increase stormwater management efforts, and protect our environmental assets, including our beautiful coastline and bay areas.
4. Preserving Our Unique Communities
Understandably, residents of Valparaiso, Bluewater Bay, and Niceville have concerns about losing their unique identities in a merger. But this does not have to be the case. Each community’s character can be preserved while reaping shared governance’s benefits.
In fact, with a merger, we could allocate resources to ensure the prioritization of cultural preservation and neighborhood identity in city planning. Valparaiso’s charm, Bluewater Bay’s suburban allure, and Niceville’s established community spirit could all be retained and celebrated. With more funds and a larger pool of planners, we could invest in maintaining historical landmarks, beautifying local parks, and organizing cultural events that reflect each area’s heritage.
Each neighborhood can maintain its distinctiveness while benefiting from the infrastructure and economic stability of being part of a larger, well-resourced city.
5. A Better Future for Our Children
The long-term benefits of a merger extend far beyond the present generation. Our children will inherit a more financially stable city, better connected and equipped with high-quality public services. A larger, unified city will have the resources to expand educational programs, create more recreational spaces, and ensure safe neighborhoods for all families.
Furthermore, we could successfully retain more of the top-tier talent that we create at Niceville High School, Collegiate, and Rocky Bayou by giving them a growing and diverse job market to return to when they finish college. It’s time we stopped teaching our best and brightest and sending them to Tampa, Jacksonville, Atlanta, or New Orleans to make those cities better places to live. Let’s have them do the many things they excel in here in our hometown and build something great together.
With a combined budget, similar zoning, and a shared strategic plan, our children will have the opportunity to grow up here, attend higher education here, start and end their careers here, and retire and thrive here.
Conclusion: United for Progress
Valparaiso, Bluewater Bay, and Niceville residents already participate in community activities together. We visit the same parks, we attend the same churches, we attend the Christmas parade together, and our children go to the same schools and play on the same sports teams.
Merging Valparaiso, Bluewater Bay, and Niceville is not just about cost savings; it’s about securing a prosperous future for all of us and formalizing what culturally already exists. A united city would have greater economic strength, more efficient resource use, and could earn a seat at the table to influence regional decisions. This combined city would also provide a path toward preserving the unique character of each community while benefiting from a unified governance structure.
Now is the time to create a future where we all thrive—more robust, more resilient, and united for progress.
The leadership of the City of Niceville would have to agree with the premise of a merger and be open to changes in how it is currently operating as a city government and council.
The first step for the City of Valparaiso would be for the city council to initiate a formal study to assess the financial, administrative, and legal implications of merging with Niceville.
Public consultations or forums could follow this to gather input from residents. A detailed plan for transitioning services, taxes, and governance is also essential. Once the proposal is formalized, it requires a public vote and an agreement between both cities’ governments. More on how that would work here.
For Bluewater Bay to merge into Niceville, the first step would involve a formal petition from the residents since it is an unincorporated area. Community members would need to engage with Okaloosa County and the City of Niceville to explore the legal incorporation process into Niceville. Public hearings, feasibility studies, and a referendum are required to ensure that residents of Bluewater Bay support the merger and understand how it would impact services and governance.
Paul first came to Niceville as an Air Force Dependent in 1994. Sjoberg graduated from Niceville High School and went on to graduate with a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Florida.
After graduation, Sjoberg worked in the defense industry, built and sold a successful IT company, and has invested heavily in our community by developing and building attainable mid-tier housing.
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