00008-18-2010 ( Pdf )
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
[email protected] For 18 years the voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso TThhee BBaayy BBeeaaccoonn 16 Pages, 2 Sections, 3 Inserts Wednesday, August 18, 2010 50¢ Voters eye $131 million sales tax plan By Thomas Monigan years to increase schools funding. option sales tax to the existing 6 revenue during its lifetime, been proposed. schools are at least 40 years old. Beacon Staff Writer “I’m torn, and I think a lot of percent state sales tax. It would according to the school district. Okaloosa schools officials say “What’s happened in Tuesday looms as the day of people are torn,” said Kelly boost the local sales-tax burden For an Okaloosa County typical district funding has decreased $31 Okaloosa County is we’ve been decision for a proposed 10-year Murphy-Redd of Ruckel by 8.3 percent family of four, million in the past three and a putting Band-Aids on things for sales-tax increase to help fund Properties in Niceville. between the the added cost half years because of shrinking years,” Tibbetts said. “At the PAC backs measure, A-7. Okaloosa County public schools. The Okaloosa County School date it would would be an enrollment, state-mandated rev- point we are now, these Band- What schools would get, A-8. In addition to choosing among Board voted 4-1 in April for a take effect, estimated $212 enue reductions, and declining Aids aren’t working, and then numerous primary-election candi- referendum Aug. 24 under a plan Jan. 1, and the a year, or about property-tax rolls. imagine 10 years from now.” dates, county voters Aug. 24 will proposed by Superintendent of date it would expire a decade $2,120 over 10 years, using 2009 Tibbetts said the added money School board member Howard decide the fate of a proposal to Schools Alexis Tibbetts. later. as a base year. The cost would be is needed to improve and main- Hill, Niceville, cast the lone “no” boost sales taxes by an estimated If voters approve, the measure The levy would generate an higher if the state extends the tain the district’s aging buildings. $131 million over the next 10 would add a 0.5 percent local- estimated $131 million in added sales tax to more services, as has Thirty of Okaloosa’s 41 public Please see SALES TAX page A-7 UP Digging Niceville’s past TRIM notices OMING CWednesday, 5:30 p.m. an early look “Financial Peace University,” a at tax rates 13-week pro- gram designed to help By Del Lessard Two taxing districts affecting families change their finan- Beacon Staff Writer the Twin Cities have proposed cial future, will be taught Property owners throughout higher millage rates: the city of at First Baptist Church, Okaloosa County will begin Niceville and the North Bay Fire 622 Bayshore Drive, receiving their annual Truth in District. In both cases the pro- Millage (TRIM) notices from the posed millage rate also exceeded Niceville. The cost for a the “rollback rate,” the millage members kit is $93, plus Okaloosa County Property Appraiser later this week. rate that would generate the same shipping. It’s not a bill, but an estimate revenue as the preceding year. Wednesday, 11 a.m.-noon of how much you may have to The Okaloosa County School pay in property taxes to various District and the city of Valparaiso Covenant taxing authorities during the fis- proposed lowering the proposed Hospice will offer cal year that will begin Oct. 1. millage rate by a fraction of a a six-week grief Tax bills will go out Nov. 1 after mill. The school board cut its pro- support group in final tax rates are set next month. Please see TRIM, page A-6 Niceville at the First United Methodist Church, 1214 S. Partin North Bay seeks Drive. To register, call Chris Krebs at 729-1800 ext. 263. 27% millage hike Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Lou Holt will teach stu- By Thomas Monigan to run against incumbent Karen Beacon Staff Writer Benegas in the November elec- dents to make a traditional tion, but since his appointment he elbow basket at the At the Sept. 14 meeting of the North Bay Fire District, the pub- has withdrawn from that race. Heritage Museum of lic will get to meet new commis- That means Benegas and Northwest Florida. The sioner Steven Strait, as well as incumbent Janet B. Santer will cost is $35 or $30 for make comments on the district’s both return to the board, since members and includes all proposed budget and a proposed neither is opposed on the materials. Space is limited. 27-percent millage increase for November ballot. Beacon photo by Del Lessard the upcoming fiscal year. Strait could not be reached for Register by calling 678- Eglin archeologists last week completed excavation of a century-old turpentine plant on the comment. 2615 or visit the Heritage Strait was appointed last week Eglin reservation north of Niceville. The 157-acre site was explored because it is in the path of to succeed Barry Reed, who North Bay’s proposed budget Museum, 115 Westview a highway planned by the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority. Pictured: Donny Bourgeois examines a recently resigned his seat on the for 2010-11 is $2,138,634, up 8 brick walkway that led a shanty where turpentine workers once lived. Ave., Valparaiso. five-member board of commis- Monday, 6 p.m. sioners. Strait had originally filed Please see MILLAGE, page A-5 The Niceville- Valparaiso Tea Party A long ballot for primary day will meet at Niceville City Hall . Guests are Mike By Del Lessard Aug. 24, primary election day. Through Monday, nearly also cast ballots to fill three non- contest, incumbent Howard Hill Lawson, a candidate for Beacon Staff Writer Lux said a referendum on a 7,000 had already have partici- partisan jobs—the district 3 and faces challenger Melissa M. circuit judge, and Mike Okaloosa County Supervisor proposed sales tax for schools, pated in early voting that began 5 seats on the school board and a Thrush. Both live in Niceville. McCalister, who is running of Elections Paul Lux believes and the wide-open Republican Aug. 9, or by absentee ballot. new circuit judgeship in Six candidates are running to Tuesday’s primary election will race in the Okaloosa County All registered voters will have Okaloosa County for the 1st fill the new, 1st Circuit Group 3 for governor. Info: 729- attract as few as one-third of all Sheriff’s contest are the two the opportunity to say yes or no Judicial Circuit. circuit judgeship: Kenneth L. 2874 or visit emeraldcoast- registered voters. “I hope they biggest draws on primary day. to a 10-year, sales-tax surcharge In the District 3 school board Brooks Jr., Clint Davis, Michael patriots.org. prove me terribly wrong,” Lux All of Okaloosa’s 127,720 of 0.5 percent proposed by the race, incumbent Rodney Walker A. Flowers, Mike Lawson, added. registered voters—73,524 Okaloosa County School Board faces challenger Paul Wendell Alishia W. McDonald, Robert E. Calendar, B-6. Polling places across Republicans, 29,847 Democrats to raise a projected $131 million Brock for a four-year term. Both McGill III. Okaloosa County will open for and 24,349 others—have reason to renovate and improve schools. men live in Fort Walton Beach. 12 hours at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, to cast ballots. Every registered voter may In the District 5 school board Please see PRIMARY, page A-4 Niceville is no place for chickens, city says Anne Hinze and daughter By Mike Griffith and east of Rocky Bayou.” without any neighbors close Madeleine with their backyard Beacon Correspondent “I had at least five offers from enough to be bothered by their chickens in June. Some Niceville chickens have people who live outside the city presence, “but still close enough hit the road after the Niceville and were willing to provide a so our children can visit them.” Beacon photo by Mike Griffith City Council voted 4-1 to uphold home for my chickens,” said On Aug. 2, the Niceville a long-time city law against keep- Hinze. The offers, she said, came Planning Commission denied ing farm animals in residential from people as close as the own- Hinze’s request to allow as many areas. ers of a horse stable in Seminole, as six egg-laying hens at homes The council Aug. 10 rejected a and as far away as a family in within city limits, after the city request from Anne Hinze to Laurel Hill, but neither of those council had heard from Hinze at change the city ordinance and locations is the chicken’s new two previous council meetings. permit small numbers of hens in home. The city council had referred backyard chicken coops. Hinze said she prefers not to Hinze to the planning commis- Fortunately for Hinze’s chick- disclose the exact address or the sion as a first step before formal- ens, their eviction from the city names of the people now provid- ly bringing her request before the did not mean a trip to the nearest ing a home for her chickens, city council. KFC. “We moved the chickens because she doesn’t want any At the Aug. 10 city council Friday evening,” she told the more trouble. She did say, how- meeting, Hinze and some of her Beacon Monday. “They are now ever, that the chickens are now in supporters spoke in favor of at the home of some friends, just a more rural environment than outside the city limits of Niceville within the Niceville city limits, Please see CHICKENS, page A-5 For 18 years the voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso Page A-2 T HE B AY B EACON Wednesday, August 18, 2010 equipment, then exiting the Sears reported that unknown person(s) store, 300 Mary Esther Blvd., stole a $300 GPS unit from her Fire Department Reports without paying for the items.