Your elected city officials in Niceville and Valparaiso will have to make a financial disclosure statement starting January 2024 – thanks to a new law passed by the Florida State Legislature. Previously, City representatives, like the mayor, city council people, and city commissioners, did not have to disclose their financial assets to the public as a part of their job duties. 

Elected officials who don’t comply with the new law and file the information by August 1 every year will be fined, and they have a one-month grace period that ends September 1. 

Failure to file the form is a $25 per day penalty – up to $1,500. However, the bill does limit fines that could be added if the financial disclosure is more than two months late. 

So now, if you are into that sort of thing, you will be able to find out how much money each council member has or doesn’t have. Here’s the link.

This new law also includes people appointed to finish an official’s full term and members of any community redevelopment agency.