💰 Commissioners spar over lowering the millage rate versus funding long-delayed infrastructure.
🛠️ Curry and Johns support Glidewell’s higher rate to keep road, bridge, and stormwater projects moving.
⚡ Drake pushes for tax cuts, citing $14M in new revenue from rising property values.
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — A sharp debate over Walton County’s property tax rate and spending priorities broke out Tuesday at a County Commission meeting, as commissioners weighed whether to return surplus revenue to taxpayers or fund long-delayed infrastructure projects.
The discussion stemmed from an agenda item proposing a millage rate of 3.5375, a compromise between Commissioner Brad Drake’s suggested 3.5 and Commissioner Danny Glidewell’s proposed 3.575.
The middle-ground rate would generate about $2.77 million in additional revenue, compared to $4.43 million under Drake’s rate and $1.1 million under Glidewell’s.
Commissioner Dan Curry, who brought the compromise forward, said he abandoned the proposal after reviewing high project costs with county staff.
“I thought I was going to go after some middle ground … but I’m back to Commissioner Glidewell’s number because [Chief Financial Officer Melissa Thomason] had stated that we would have to take something out of capital improvements or staff to get to that number,” Curry said. “After seeing how expensive resurfacing roads are, bridges … I’m compact with Glidewell’s suggestion.”
Commissioner Donna Johns supported Curry’s reversal, citing stormwater projects in her district that have been on hold for more than a decade.
“I’d hate to have that cut because of the mileage being cut,” Johns said. “That’s our job to do. That’s what we’re supposed to do.”
Drake framed the issue as an ideological choice, urging the board to keep taxes low.
“You’re either right of center or you’re left of center,” he said. “I advocated to the people that elected me … that I wanted to become the lowest property tax county in the state. I didn’t hide it … it’s what people want.”
Editor’s Note: It’s important to note that Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Drake to be a member of the Walton County Commission, and the elected reference in his comments was directed at his time in the State Legislature.
Drake pointed to rising property values, saying the county has “almost $14 million more in increased revenue” this year.
“You have to decide whether you’re going to return tax monies to the people that paid it, or are we going to spend it for them?” Drake said.
Glidewell pushed back, warning that residents also expect services.
“Do you want an ambulance on every street corner in Walton County? … The majority of people will say yes. But if I say, Do you want to pay double or triple in taxes to pay for it? No, we don’t want to pay for it,” he said. “There is a balance between the services we are required to provide and how we pay for them.”
The exchange grew tense as Drake accused Glidewell of defending “the exact governmental policy that’s taking place in Washington, D.C.” At the same time, Glidewell insisted the county has “a duty to provide these services.”
The back-and-forth ended when Johns called for the discussion to stop, and the board moved on to the following agenda item.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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