From Ron Romano email:
Dear Commissioners and Friends,
We are at an unprecedented time in Walton County. The south part of the county is seeing dynamic growth. DR Horton, the nation’s largest home builder, is selling nearly 40 homes per month and now has 13 communities in the South Walton area with more coming on line every day. My real estate company is seeing large numbers of buyers that are planning to call South Walton home, not part time, but full time. In fact a majority of our sales are now to full time residents. Historical vacation communities like WaterColor, Rosemary Beach and WaterSound are seeing more and more full time residents. We are no longer a vacation home community that provides the economic engine to run Walton County (nearly 90% of the tax base for Walton County is South of the bay!). We are now a large full time community with actual needs.
Our schools are seeing amazing growth. Our new middle school that had “plenty of room” when complete last year, is already adding 8 classrooms which will still not be enough to meet demand this year. Butler Elementary ended the last school year with 903 students and there were over 400 more at Bay Elementary. The Middle School is looking at the prospect of 750 students this year. The area has multiple private schools a charter school and many children that are home schooled. It is estimated that there are 2,500 kids in South Walton grades K-8. There is currently ONE legal football/Soccer field for all of South Walton. That field is extremely taxed and is in very poor shape. We have multiple youth soccer, football, baseball and softball teams along with adult teams all fighting for space.
The TDC commissioned a study in 2010 that looked at the need for a recreational sports complex. That study concluded that one was needed (I have attached a portion of the study). Based on today’s numbers and increased tourism the numbers in the study are very conservative and already outdated. The report states the need for an outdoor sports complex with six lighted baseball/softball fields, four to six lighted multi-purpose soccer/football/lacrosse fields, supporting elements (concession stands, restrooms and administrative offices) and on-site parking. The study estimated around 200,000 attendee days at the park with approximately 175 new jobs created in Walton County as a result, It estimates the complex adding roughly $5.7 million in personal earnings in South Walton created along with 32,000+/- rental room nights generated from activities at the complex, directly generating $11-$12 million in annual direct spending in South Walton. The result would generate $179,000 to $193,000 annually in TDC revenues. The estimated cost of running the complex is $378,000 to $431,000 per year. If the TDC and the county would split the cost the TDC would actually make money as a result and the county would have a sports and entertainment complex for its citizens costing only around $200,000 per year. The sheer number of new homes being completed every month in South Walton, raising the tax base, only further serve to make this a very small amount.
Sporting activity would only be one aspect of the new complex. We need entertainment space. South Walton has already lost the Seabreeze Jazz Festival to Panama City Beach and ArtsQuest has been told they are no longer welcome at Seaside as it has become too of large an event. The 30A Songwriters Festival would like to bring larger acts to the festival in January but has no venues large enough to accommodate them. This complex could host car shows, equestrian shows, art shows, concerts, food festivals and more. In addition the Tourist Development Counsel could house their new offices in one corner of the complex, alleviating the need for an 11 acre complex for that purpose. It is estimated that Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach brings in over $16,000,000 per year in revenue to the city.
The estimated cost of the complex is between $11.3 and $13.5 million. Congress has just passed the Renew Act. With the Renew Act, Walton County is set to receive between $30,000,000 and $150,000,000 from BP fines that are to be used for “Economic Projects”. This represents a unique opportunity to make lasting improvements for the county. This money must not be squandered into the general operating budget. This is a project that will benefit the entire county, serve the citizens and increase revenue and quality of life for our citizens and guests. The park could be expanded in the future to include swimming pools, performing arts and even convention space. Now is the time to act. Land along the US 98 corridor is still relatively depressed but that is changing rapidly. DR Horton is buying everything they can get their hands on. Now is the time to secure the land and we now have the resources in place. The TDC could even build their new offices on the site alleviating the need for the 11 acre site that has been proposed and saving that money.
In addition, the county budget has forced our Parks and Recreation Department to cut all funding of Youth Football, Soccer and Baseball teams for the entire county. This is a community disgrace, we need to find money in in the budget for the kids. This is why you see kids panhandling at the intersections along 30-A, they don’t even have money to buy uniforms. Let your commissioners know to put money back in the budget to fund kids sports. This is a very small amount of money each year, $75-$95,000 per year should enable all youth leagues from DeFuniak Springs to South Walton to get at least $5,000 to help with insurance, uniforms and equipment.
With continued inaction in South Walton, we as community members need to explore incorporation for South Walton. By putting incorporation on the ballot we can keep our money in South Walton and have many of the community amenities of a city (better roads, parks, etc.) Please call your county commissioner and let them know your thoughts.
Thank you for your time. Please forward this email to everyone you know that may be interested!
Ron Romano