Issues

City of Fort Walton Beach Referenda

(November 5, 2024, Election)

Ballot Question 1

PROHIBITION OF COMPENSATION TO ELECTED OFFICIALS

SHALL THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH’S CHARTER BE AMENDED TO PROHIBIT ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM RECEIVING ANY COMPENSATION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION A SALARY OR OTHER ITEM OF FINANCIAL BENEFIT, EXCEPT THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES ACTUALLY INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES?

YES (for approval)           NO (for rejection)

Talking points

VOTE NO! Prohibition of Compensation to Elected Officials

Point: An elected official in the City of Fort Walton Beach is a city employee. By raising your hand to serve, you are sacrificing time away from YOUR family and business. 

How much work involved: It’s more than just a twice-a-month meeting. 

Lots of preparation—Average Council agenda packet is over 500 pages!

Answering emails, texts, phone calls, questions about city business—while you are at your own job, shopping, at church!

Impact: City elected officials are on the job 24/7 as they always must make themselves available to the residents.

Does not need to be a Charter Change: Elected officials’ compensation is set via ordinance. To revise the compensation, an ordinance requires two public meetings, thus the residents are already capable of involving themselves in the discussion. Citizens can vote in, or out, elected officials who they feel are not achieving the will of the residents.  

Numbers: Mayor $500/$400 City Council per month; plus, medical benefits.

Ballot Question 2

REQUIREMENT TO LEVY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS

SHALL THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH’S CHARTER BE AMENDED TO ADD A REQUIREMENT THAT THE CITY MUST FIRST GATHER THE SIGNATURES OF THE MAJORITY OF THE OWNERS OF RECORD OF REAL PROPERTY THAT THE CITY INTENDS TO LEVY A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT UPON?

YES (for approval)           NO (for rejection)

Talking Points

VOTE NO! Requirement to Levy Special Assessments

Point: This amendment would significantly restrict the City Council’s ability to govern effectively.

The methodology to levy special assessments is already included in current Florida Statues.

This would restrict assessments for infrastructure improvements such as water, sewer, storm water and road paving. 

Example: City residents should make the decisions on how our City should be governed, not nonresident property owners. 

Impact: Referendums are costly ($25,000-$50,000) and time-consuming. This amendment does not clarify how referendums would be conducted, leading to confusion and inefficiency. 

There are already procedures in place to obtain public/residents’ input. 

Ballot Question 3

BUDGET LIMITATIONS

SHALL THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH’S CHARTER BE AMENDED TO LIMIT THE CITY’S PERSONNAL AND OPERATING EXPENDITURES TO AN AMOUNT THAT MAY NOT EXCEED THE PRIOR YEAR’S ACTUAL EXPENDITURES BY MORE THAN 3% OR THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE, IF ANY, IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, WHICHEVER IS LESS, WITHOUT PRIOR REFERENDUM APPROVAL, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS INCLUDING EXCEPTIONS FOR EMERGENCIES, GRANTS, GIFTS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS?

YES (for approval)           NO (for rejection)

Talking points 

VOTE NO! Budget Limitations

Point: No other City in Florida restricts their city budget in this manner. 

An increased budget does not mean increased taxes. 

This amendment will not save money but restricts spending necessary for city development. 

Example: Quality of life and essential services like public safety and traffic projects, could be severely impacted.

Impact: Strict budget caps could lead to reduced city services and employee layoffs.  

There will be a strong inability to make improvements in infrastructure and the beautification of our city. 

Our city’s growth and ability to respond to emergencies and opportunities would be stifled.

It will devastate our community.