Early Voting in Santa Rosa County Starts Monday and Runs Through Oct. 31
Early voting for the 2026 General Election in Santa Rosa County, Florida, runs daily from Monday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
News
Walton County estimates $4.5 million for Isaias debris removal
The Walton County Board of County Commissioners heard a preliminary cost of about $4.5 million to remove Hurricane Isaias storm debris at its first regular meeting since the storm.
Fort Walton Beach moves utility customer service to Recreation Center after Isaias damage
The city's Customer Service Office has been temporarily relocated to the Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center because hurricane damage affected City Hall.
Walton County expands storm debris contract, extends emergency after Isaias
Commissioners approved adding public beaches and public and private neighborhoods to the debris removal work, and extended the local state of emergency. Preliminary cost estimate: about $4.5 million.
Okaloosa intends to award aviation insurance consulting, $58,400 front dump, $25,000 redfish release
Okaloosa County's weekly intent-to-award notice for Oct. 16, 2026 lists six purchases, including aviation insurance consulting billed by the hour.
Callaway Planning Board approves Dutch Bros, Firestone and Creekside subdivision
The board voted unanimously on Sept. 15 for three projects, and a 12-lot housing plan is in the packet for its Oct. 20 meeting.
FPL Says Hurricane Isaias Power Restoration Is Essentially Complete in Northwest Florida
Florida Power & Light says it has essentially finished restoring power after Hurricane Isaias and is still helping Northwest Florida recover.
Panama City Commission Acts on FLOCK Cameras After CRA Defunding for FY 2027
The commission has decided that FLOCK cameras in State rights-of-way must be removed and has set next steps for the cameras inside city limits.
Mexico Beach schedules three workshops on its Land Development Code starting Oct. 29
The city will hold its 3rd, 4th and 5th Land Development Code workshops at 9 a.m. on Oct. 29, Oct. 30 and Nov. 5, according to its weekly report.
Okaloosa Value Adjustment Board Hearings Begin Oct. 26 at Crestview Courthouse
Special magistrates hear property tax appeals in Crestview on Oct. 26 and 27, 2026, and Good Cause hearings start Nov. 18.
SS United States reef deployment set for second week of November off Destin
Okaloosa County has set the second week of November 2026 to sink the SS United States about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, as the World's Largest Artificial Reef.
Panama City Beach debris pickup continues; Bay County free dumping runs to Oct. 25
Panama City Beach crews will keep collecting residential storm debris for several weeks, while Bay County extended free household waste disposal at Steelfield Landfill through Sunday, Oct. 25.
Panama City police lose trust in school zone camera vendor; program’s future unclear
A city notice dated Sept. 24, 2026, says police no longer have sufficient trust in the vendor running the automated school zone camera program.
Panama City says more than $300 million in rebuilding projects is underway, from marinas to the Martin Theatre
The city's first State of the City address listed major projects, timelines and 2027 work, but its release does not give costs or funding sources.
Florida seeks major disaster declaration for Isaias; IRS extends tax deadlines to Feb. 8
Florida has asked for a major disaster declaration after Hurricane Isaias, the IRS extended federal tax deadlines to Feb. 8, 2027 in 27 counties, and small businesses can apply for zero-interest bridge…
Navarre Beach Boardwalk bids opened Sept. 17; Oct. 19 workshop postponed after Isaias
Santa Rosa County opened bids for the Navarre Beach Boardwalk Project on Sept. 17, 2026, and the Board can build all, none or part of it, depending on the amounts.
Santa Rosa schools post Isaias meal, housing and damage-report help; Sims returns Oct. 20
Four Santa Rosa County schools have posted Hurricane Isaias updates, including help for displaced families and reopening plans that vary by school.
Milton lifts boil water advisory after Isaias; emergency runs through Oct. 18
The City of Milton, in Santa Rosa County, Florida, ended the precautionary boil water advisory for all city water customers, while debris crews work in 14 zones.
Santa Rosa County tourist tax hits $6.86M through August; Navarre Beach leads
The Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court's figures cover October 2025 through August 2026, and two county tourism reports give visitor counts that cannot be compared.
Santa Rosa’s tentative FY2027 budget is $255.2M, below FY2026’s $265.4M
The county's OpenGov transparency portal lists a tentative fiscal 2027 budget of $255,168,791, lower than the $265,443,903 adopted for fiscal 2026, but gives no reason for the change.