Santa Rosa commissioners add three employee holidays, adopt 2025 meeting calendar

The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt its published 2025 meeting calendar and add three holidays to the county employee schedule: a floating holiday, New Year’s Eve and Presidents Day, effective Dec. 31.

Chair Carrie Smith moved to “pass this item notating a floating holiday, New Year’s Eve, and Presidents Day as the three new holidays added,” and Commissioner Burkett seconded before the board approved the motion without dissent.

Commissioner Burkett, who proposed aligning the county’s holiday count with neighboring jurisdictions, said the change is intended to help retain employees and reduce turnover. County staff explained a floating holiday can be implemented through a leave code that accounts for varying shift lengths (eight-, ten- and 12‑hour schedules), and the clerk’s office confirmed it will coordinate payroll and court‑side staffing implications.

Board members also agreed to schedule a planning workshop in late January to discuss revenue diversification, the capital improvement plan and land‑use code topics. Staff said they will publish the workshop date and any calendar amendments in advance.

The board also approved an Operations and Safety report and the consent agenda during the meeting; both items passed by unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned after a final clarification that the holiday schedule would start Dec. 31.