FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa County commissioners on Tuesday voted to divert a portion of the county’s dedicated park funds to pay for storm water improvements.
The board unanimously approved the measure after a public hearing on the issue.
Commissioner Wayne Harris said storm water issues need the county’s attention.
“I don’t think we have a choice in this issue,” he said.
Under the proposal, the county would divert $400,000 to $450,000 from its parks fund each year to support a new storm water utility.
That money, added to $400,000 provided from the general fund each year, would cover a basic level of storm water expenses, Public Works Director John Hofstad said.
“As minimal as it is, this gives us that leg up,” he said.
Hofstad said the county’s storm water needs are growing and total about $50 million. He said the division is extremely underfunded, but any effort to boost the program is important because it’s mandated by the federal government.
Hofstad said there are serious consequences for counties that do not keep their storm water programs sufficiently funded.
“(Federal officials) are going to hand down a consent order,” he said. “They’re going to hand down a fine and they’re going to tell you to fix it.”
Residents in unincorporated Okaloosa are part of a Municipal Services Taxing Unit that generates money to fund parks across the county. The county established the MSTU in 1984 after it settled a double-taxation lawsuit brought by three cities.
The MSTU generates about $1.1 million a year for parks. The board’s changes to the MSTU ordinance will apply only to revenue generated after Oct. 1, which is the start of the 2013-14 fiscal year.