Commission Hosts Proposed Judicial Center Town Hall Meetings

On the November general election ballot voters in Santa Rosa County will have the opportunity to decide if a proposed county-wide one cent local option sales tax should be adopted to fund a new judicial center and if approved, where the new facility will be located through four ballot measures. The Santa Rosa County Commission will hold six town hall meetings for residents who wish to learn more about the ballot measures:

• Monday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.  – Pace Community Center, 5976 Chumuckla Hwy. in Pace
• Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. – Board Chambers, 6495 Caroline St. in Milton
• Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 9 a.m. – Tiger Point Community Center, 1370 Tiger Park Ln. in Gulf Breeze
• Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. – Jay Community Center, 5259 Booker St. in Jay
• Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. – Navarre Visitor Center, 8543 Navarre Pkwy. in Navarre
• Monday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. – Tiger Point Community Center, 1370 Tiger Park Ln. in Gulf Breeze

The current Santa Rosa County Courthouse is located in downtown Milton.  Built in 1927, the building size is no longer sufficient for all the necessary courthouse functions and the design of the building creates security issues for the public and staff. The parking, heating and cooling system, and telephone and computer network infrastructure are also no longer adequate for daily operations. A new facility that can serve our fast growing county today, and up to 75 years in the future, is needed.

Voters will be asked if they support a one percent local option sales tax for five years. Often referred to as a “one cent” sales tax, it would increase sales tax by one percent. If approved, the sales tax will be limited to five years. It would begin on Jan. 1, 2015 and end at midnight on Dec. 31, 2019.

Voters will also have the opportunity to voice their preference for where a possible new judicial facility should be built. In three non-binding referendum items, voters have the option of voting yes or no for each of the three possible locations for a new facility:

• Approximately seven acres next to the current courthouse in downtown Milton
• In excess of 15 acres on U.S. Hwy. 90 southwest of the Peter Prince Airport
• 22.46 acres on Hwy. 90 in Pea Ridge

Information on the proposed judicial center is also available online at www.santarosa.fl.gov or by clicking here. The webpage includes a timeline and answers to frequently asked questions