Incorporate South Walton? What do you think?

[WaltonIsOne]

In the most recent issue of the Defuniak Herald/Beach Breeze there was an editorial letter entitled "Who's Running Walton County - Part Duex".

An interesting point at the end of the article mentioned something about it being time to incorporate Walton County south of the Bay.

Has anyone seen the article? Also, I know that some years ago there was a movement to incorporate the Southern part of the county.

What does everyone/anyone think of the idea?

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I'll see if I can get it posted tomorrow. I don't remember if it was a letter to the editor or a paid ad. I'll have to look.

 

[Bob Wells]

What would be the the benefit of incorporation?

 

[Kurt]

Yes! Every morning I wake up wishing I had a little more bureaucracy.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Yes! Every morning I wake up wishing I had a little more bureaucracy.

And most likely- increased taxes to pay for the new bureaucracy.

 

[scooterbug44]

Kurt and Beachsand summed it up for me.

What are the benefits of incorporating? And most importantly these days, who profits if we do?

 

[Jdarg]

I can never get a concrete handle on what is involved in incorporating. On the surface it seems to be a great idea and one that people in South Walton have been throwing around in different forms for a long time. I think there is a growing frustration with the huge percentage of money generated south of the bay but never the feeling that enough of that money (and decision making power) ends up down here.

 

[scooterbug44]

How does incorporating change that? I was told bed tax collecting and dispersal is decided at the state level, so an incorporated Sowal will not change that.

 

[Jdarg]

It's not just about bed taxes.

 

[NotDeadYet]

It is the ad valorem taxes from south of the bay that historically have irritated people, because of the higher property tax values in the south end.