Document Center

Charter Documents:


Full Charter

Charter Summary
Charter Summary Version Notes

Feasibility Study Documents:


Final Study

Final Study Version Notes

Final Study Summary
Final Study Summary Version Notes

Priority Survey:

Priorities Survey Results

Community Info:

Community Info Presentation

 

Multiple charter workshops were held in recent months to gather feedback from the community and incorporate key ideas into the draft charter for inclusion in the full version. Several key components of the charter were updated to include residents’ ideas for improvement, such as:

  • Creating term limits for council members of two consecutive terms
  • Modifying the vice mayor’s term from four to two years
  • Defining the replacement process for council members who move out of their district prior to their term’s end
  • Modifying the required Council vote needed to levy a municipal ad valorem tax to require a supermajority vote to levy or increase an ad valorem tax rather than to levy or change an ad valorem tax
  • Limiting maximum municipal ad valorem taxes to 2.5 mills
  • Requiring a run-off election if no council candidate receives a majority vote for a particular seat during regular elections
  • Allowing council members to increase their salaries, but restricting these changes to take effect two years after the next council election

The updated Charter Summary and the full Charter document can be viewed via the buttons above.

 

The Process of Incorporation

When a new municipality is being proposed, Florida Statutes require a feasibility study and proposed Charter be submitted to the Florida State Legislature for consideration along with the associated local bill. ABSW completed and submitted a study, Charter and local bill to the State in the Fall of 2016. In February 2017, ABSW pulled the South Walton incorporation referendum local bill from consideration during the 2017 Florida Legislative session. ABSW pulled the bill because from all indications our local delegation did not support incorporation or even allowing the citizens the right to vote on incorporation. When in the future when the political timing is right, an updated study, Charter and local bill will be submitted to the State Legislature for consideration. These documents will be updated with then current assumptions and financial data based on updated analysis and dialogue with the people of South Walton.

Click here to read the Florida State Statute 165.041 list of requirements for a Feasibility Study.