The Florida Supreme Court voted unanimously March 20 that Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser Greg Brown was correct in assessing property taxes on leased land and structures on Navarre Beach. Brown began assessing property taxes on Navarre Beach leaseholders shortly after taking office in 2001 – a move he says has generated $81 million in revenue. Roughly $3.65 million more is now expected for interest fees on a portion of that revenue which remained unpaid.

Currently the only regular meetings held during evening hours by the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners are monthly zoning board meetings. Local Tea Party leader Sam Mullins hopes to change that, and board Chairman Jim Melvin is agreeable to give it a try.

Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Donald Spencer made good on his campaign promise to put county financial information online. Spencer’s site contains not only audited financial statements but also a monthly investment report.

The Citizens to Incorporate Navarre Political Action Committee is seeking signatures in an effort to show Santa Rosa County commissioners enough support exists to place a nonbinding straw poll on the Aug. 26 primary election ballot. Incorporation supporters approached the commissioners in 2012 making the same request but were turned down.

Anti-paddling activist James McNulty seems to have succeeded in his effort to get corporal punishment banned as a form of punishment in Santa Rosa County public schools after alleging possible violations of state statutes related to the policy and public meeting notices.