Citing concerns about utility strain and community character, Fort Walton Beach adopted a resolution placing a moratorium on data-center permits within city limits while the city studies impacts and land‑use definitions.

Council approved entering into an agreement to pay Jackson Land Trust $3,870,000 to acquire the city‑hall property reverter interest and obtain dismissal of litigation with prejudice; closing expected about Nov. 1, 2026.

Police reported a 97% reduction in speeding in school zones with photo enforcement, 23,066 notices issued (15,064 paid), and $1.5 million collected and distributed across state, contractor and local public‑safety programs; council approved the statutory annual report unanimously.

Police outlined license-plate reader (LPR) use and legal background, citing several cases where LPRs aided investigations; council debated privacy and constitutionality, asked for policy transparency, and did not vote to terminate or otherwise end the program.

After public objections, Fort Walton Beach council narrowly approved Ordinance 22-28 permitting a one-time $3,870,000 interfund loan from the Beale Memorial Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund to finance purchase of the city-hall property and extinguish a reverter clause, resolving pending litigation.

The Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency adopted Resolution 2026-1 approving the CRA FY27 budget on a 5–1 vote after residents questioned line-item amounts and board members debated millage and fund-balance choices.

Resident Brian Mills urged the CRA to adopt clearer procurement and reporting practices, citing a pressure-washing budget ($100k) that appears to mismatch an identified $41,800 award and asking for a 5‑year CRA plan and quarterly reports.

The Fort Walton Beach council adopted a tentative FY 2026–27 budget of $65,396,485 (a 0.23% increase from the prior adopted budget) and set a final public hearing for Sept. 23, 2026. The budget reflects cuts, reorganization of staff positions, and capital priorities including a proposed surtax‑funded fire truck and enterprise fund transition for the golf course.

Councilman Walker challenged staff to explain why the Fort Walton Beach police staffing and costs were higher than a neighboring contract arrangement, prompting a detailed response from the police chief and a wider discussion about service levels, subsidies and potential bids for contract policing.

City Manager Jason Davis presented a proposed FY2026–27 budget that currently relies on roughly $3 million in fund balance; council members repeatedly warned that a voter-approved 3% cap on personnel and operations limits flexibility and could force deeper service cuts if a state-level measure further reduces revenues.

Staff proposed allowing cottage‑food carts/stands in residential yards under defined standards (size, setback, hours, removability, parking). The Local Planning Agency approved a motion 4–2 to forward ordinance 22‑27 to City Council with a recommendation for further public workshops and reexamination of specific provisions.

One Okaloosa EDC Director Nathan Sparks reported recent economic-development activity including roughly $150 million in military construction projects championed by the EDC, a Space Florida MOU to create Space Academies in county high schools, and TechNet Industry Day attendance of 499; councilmembers questioned the level of public funding support for EDC operations.

Council unanimously authorized the city manager and city attorney to negotiate favorable refinancing or interest-forgiveness terms with the Emerald Coast Science Center and to explore 2027 CDBG support for a required roof, aiming to avoid foreclosure of the museum's property.

Facing an estimated $500,000 operating-cap gap, the Fort Walton Beach City Council on a 4–3 vote set a tentative maximum millage of 5.6900 and approved several measures to remove services from the city’s general fund — including outsourcing daycare, senior programs and some events — while leaving final budget choices to later readings.

At a June 16 workshop, Fort Walton Beach council examined outsourcing city-run sports, daycare and senior programs and considered new user fees, enterprise-fund accounting and a possible fire-assessment or millage adjustment to close a roughly $500,000 operating shortfall and prepare for an estimated $1.7 million homestead-exemption impact.

Council considered but rejected a staff request to seek a formal proposal from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office to provide full-time dispatch services. Proponents cited possible savings and efficiency; opponents raised concerns about staff morale, pensions and county budget cuts. Motion failed 4-3.

Council authorized a first amendment to the Bayside Breeze development agreement to accommodate a site shift after unsuitable soils were discovered. The developer said the relocation required a new legal description for mortgage and financing; city grant commitments were unchanged though timelines were extended.

City leaders directed staff to prepare a deep budget workshop after the meeting, citing a binding operations cap (CPI + 3% now 2.53%), potential $1.2 million ad valorem loss from a proposed homestead exemption, and rising deferred maintenance. Options discussed included surplus property sales, enterprise-rate increases, MSBUs/fees and service consolidation.

Fort Walton Beach’s city manager urged enforcement of a local ordinance and Florida Statute 812.14 to stop unauthorized connections to park utilities, citing data showing higher ordinance violations at Liza Jackson, Ferry Park and The Landing and outlining hardware and software options to secure outlets.