Okaloosa County adopts tentative FY26 budget, holds millage steady as public questions SS United remediation funding

Okaloosa County commissioners on Sept. 4 approved tentative millage-rate resolutions and a tentative $687,249,428 fiscal year 2026 budget, voting unanimously after a staff presentation and two public comments that raised questions about county funding for environmental remediation of the SS United States vessel.

The tentative budget ‘‘contemplates holding the line on the county property tax millage at 3.8308 mills,’’ a staff member said, adding that the countywide rate ‘‘exceeds the rollback rate of 3.6825 mills by 4.03%.’’ The board set the unincorporated municipal services taxing unit (MSTU) rate at the rollback rate of 0.288 mills, down from 0.299 mills, producing an aggregate millage of 3.9613 mills, which staff said ‘‘exceeds the rollback rate of 3.8193 mills by 3.72%.’’

Why it matters: The tentative budget sets spending priorities and the tax rates used to prepare final levies. Commissioners must adopt final millage rates and the final budget at a subsequent hearing; staff said the final budget hearing is scheduled for Sept. 16 at the Shalimar County Administration Building.

Most important facts first:…